Tess Johnson earns first World Cup moguls win in 7 years
Tess Johnson earned her first World Cup moguls victory in seven years, becoming the third different American woman to win this season in a discipline that figures to be very competitive for 2026 Olympic team selection.
Johnson led a U.S. one-two with Jaelin Kauf, edging Kauf 77.68 to 77.66, on Friday in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The six-skier super final was canceled due to poor visibility, so results were used from the first run of finals with 16 skiers.
Johnson snapped Kauf's win streak at five, though the World Cup standings leader Kauf did extend her run to 10 consecutive top-two finishes in World Cups.
The Almaty field included neither 2022 Olympic champion Jakara Anthony of Australia (sidelined since a December injury) nor 2018 Olympic champion Perrine Laffont of France (skipping this stop).
Johnson moved up to fifth in this season's World Cup standings counting results in both moguls and dual moguls, the latter making its Olympic debut in 2026.
Five American women are in the top 15 of the standings -- Kauf (first), Olivia Giaccio (fourth), Johnson (fifth), Kasey Hogg (10th) and Kai Owens (12th).
The U.S. is expected to have four women's moguls spots at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games with the team announced next season.
When she was 14, Johnson became the youngest skier to ever make the U.S. national team in moguls. At 17, she became at the time the youngest U.S. Olympic moguls skier in history and placed 12th at the 2018 PyeongChang Games.
A month later, Johnson earned her first World Cup win in dual moguls, which had been her lone top-level international victory until Friday in Almaty.
In 2022, Johnson did not make the four-woman Beijing Olympic team despite being ranked fifth overall in the World Cup standings at the time of the last selection.
'This only fuels my hunger for more at the World Cups following the Games, and I will never stop believing in myself,' was posted on Johnson's social media at the time. 'I'm proud to say I fought my hardest, I performed, and I will continue to do so. I'm grateful to everyone who has supported me relentlessly throughout this painstaking process. I guess I will just always wonder what I could have shown the world in China.'
Nick Zaccardi,
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Dominion Post
an hour ago
- Dominion Post
Sophie Verzyl, Anna Kwong win gold at American Cup
Down seven points, Divers Sophie Verzyl and Anna Kwong knew they had to make up some ground on the Australians on this last dive to take the gold medal. As she always does, Verzyl looked at Kwong and asked if she was ready. She nodded, Verzyl counted down, and they started their routine three meters above the ground. They flipped and perfectly landed in the water with minimal splash. Verzyl and Kwong scored a 72.42, the highest score of the five rounds. With their last dive, Kwong and Verzyl beat the Australians 277.56-274.71 to take gold in the women's 3-meter synchronized dive at the American Cup held at Peak Health Aquatic Center in Morgantown on Saturday morning. 'We were pretty happy,' Kwong said. 'We had a couple slips… I'm really, really happy with that last dive in particular, putting it together in a competition.' The winning dive was the first time the two had ever performed it in competition, so it was a bit of a risk, especially relying on it to give them the win. The duo wasn't stressed from what they learned from their coaches and were going out to have fun no matter the outcome. 'Not stressing about the dive because my coach tells me technique is power,' Kwong said. 'You don't have to force power to give you good technique.' The dive was new, but everything was new for the two of them. The two had only been diving together for a month. In May, at the World Cup in Beijing, China, Kwong's synchronized partner backed out because of over exhaustion. Kwong knew Verzyl was going for individual diving, so she asked Verzyl to be her partner. After the World Cup, the two went to the National Championship, where they tied for first. The American Cup was their third competition diving together. From there, the two have developed a connection, sending each other Instagram reels and Facetiming each other regularly, even going to two different schools. 'This is my bestie,' Verzyl said. 'We are good friends.' Kwong actually looked up to Verzyl quite a bit before the two became partners. Verzyl's a decorated individual diver. She won 1st in the 2025 National Championships and first at the SEC Championships for South Carolina. Verzyl also said she looked up to Kwong, who was a World-level trampolinist before diving. Since starting diving, Kwong's won three national-level competitions, and first in the Big 12 Championships for TCU. The relationship propelled the two to collect first place at the American Cup despite their lowest score in a single round, where they slipped off the platform. In diving, having a strong relationship is important because the more in sync, the better the score. Even after just diving for a month, Kwong and Verzyl's bond is strong, which helped them get the win. 'I like having someone to do it with,' Kwong said. 'You're not all on your own. It's nice to be up on the boards with your friend. Being able to bounce positivity off of each other. There have been partnerships where people don't like each other, and that makes diving together really hard. We enjoy each other's company.' The synchronized duo weren't the only winners from Saturday's finals. USA secured first and second in the men's 10-meter synchronized diving. The duo of Joshua Hedberg and Carson Tyler rolled the rest of the competition and scored 430.29 after six dives. In second, Dash Glasberg and Max Weinrich edged out Australia with a score of 322.56. Later Saturday night was the men's 3-meter finals. USA went one-two again. Max Weinrich won first with former Olympian, Tyler, finishing second.
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Gold Cup starts on Saturday with defending champion Mexico in action
Unlike the World Cup, the CONCACAF Gold Cup is often contested by B and C teams due to vacation, injuries and youth callups. "We have a lot of young players that need more opportunities to play real minutes," Canada coach Jesse Marsch said ahead of this year's championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean. "There [are] a lot ways I think to use the tournament to broaden our player pool and to strengthen what we're doing with our team." Defending champion Mexico opens the 16-nation event Saturday against the Dominican Republic in a first-round group that also includes Costa Rica and Suriname. The reeling United States, on its first four-game losing streak since 2007, starts Sunday against Trinidad and Tobago, then plays invited guest Saudi Arabia and Haiti. Canada is grouped with Honduras, El Salvador and Curaçao, and Panama is together with Jamaica, Guatemala and Guadeloupe. "We have the obligation of being the favorites," Javier Aguirre, hired last summer for his third stint as Mexico's coach, said through a translator. "We have to accept that title." Mexico has won nine Gold Cups, including 2023. The U.S. has won seven, including 2021, and Canada won in 2000. The tournament will be played at the same time as the Club World Cup, which has been given priority for players by FIFA. "It's not to say that if someone isn't here now they won't be here next year," Aguirre said. "So many things can happen in a year." Gold Cup matches will be played at 14 stadiums in 11 areas, avoiding the Eastern seaboard. The championship is at Houston on July 6. El Tri will be missing forwards Hirving "Chucky" Lozano and Henry Martin, who have hamstring injuries. Canada is without star winger Alphonso Davies, who tore his right ACL during the CONCACAF Nations League third-place game against the U.S. on March 23. The Americans are without stars Christian Pulisic (wanted time off), Yunus Musah (personal reason not disclosed), Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna (headed to the Club World Cup), Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun (injured) and Sergino Dest (regaining fitness). "I don't think there's any denying that some of our performances have fallen short over the past year to 18 months," defender Walker Zimmerman said. "When you look at Gold Cup and you look at some players maybe having their first experience with Gold Cup or even new guys coming into the team in general, it's always such a great opportunity to have a month in front of a staff, get a lot of quality trainings in together and find yourself hopefully getting into a rhythm of playing multiple games where you can put everything on the line to try and make a World Cup team in a year's time." The U.S. has won its group in 16 of 17 Gold Cups, along with a second-place finish to Panama in 2011, and its group stage record is 40 wins, one loss and five draws. American players are aware of the criticism of their play since the 2022 World Cup. "What you see online, all that media, all the opinions, it's impossible this day not to see it," defender John Tolkin said Friday. "We have a huge opportunity right now to kind of change the narrative and, yeah, set the focus towards the World Cup coming up next summer, and that's to win this tournament." Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from Gold Cup Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
House that Leo built: Pope delivers message of hope at White Sox park
House that Leo built: Pope delivers message of hope at White Sox park Thousands went to the first American pope's old haunt on the South Side to hear a message from the man they once knew as Robert Francis Prevost. Show Caption Hide Caption 'One of our own': Chicago celebrates election of Pope Leo XIV Chicago residents and leaders with the Archdiocese of Chicago are celebrating the election of a native to the papacy. CHICAGO – The city's favorite son delivered a fastball straight from the Vatican. Pope Leo XIV, born in Chicago in 1955, spoke in a video message to tens of thousands of spectators at Rate Field, the Chicago White Sox ballpark that was a staple of his youth growing up. Leo's message was part of a celebration of the first American pope at the stadium of his beloved ball team. The South Side native's message was aimed particularly at young people. 'That restlessness you feel in your hearts, we shouldn't look for ways to put out the fire, to numb ourselves to the difficulties we feel, we should get in touch with our hearts and realize that God can work through it,' said Leo, speaking in a pre-recorded message to people gathered at the sunny ballpark. 'That light on the horizon is not easy to see and yet as we come together we discover that light is growing brighter and brighter.' The special message from Leo was part of a program at the home of the pope's beloved ball team that included words from people who knew him as Robert Francis Prevost, fourth graders who participated in a viral mock conclave and performances by a Chicago Catholic high school choir that was recently on America's Got Talent. 'I'd like to take this opportunity to invite each one of you to look into your hearts,' Leo said. 'God is present and in many ways He's calling you to look into your heart, to discover how important it is for each one of us to pay attention to God in our hearts, to that longing for love we may feel.' Chicago-area Cardinal Blase Cupich celebrated Mass and Chicago Bulls announcer Chuck Swirsky emceed the event. Among attendees were nuns from Chicago-area convents who had never been to the stadium and Saturday found themselves seated in the infield, Sox fans returning to their regular stomping grounds and Chicago Cubs fans who were convinced to cross enemy lines at last. Leo is a noted Sox fan. He was recently spotted wearing the team's ball cap and was seen in archival footage at Game 1 of the 2005 World Series. The ball club honored the moment with a mural at Section 140 where Leo was seen standing to rally the team in the team's pinstripes. Alderwoman Nicole Lee of the city's 11th Ward, which includes the stadium, attended in a retro Sox shirt. 'What a great way to bring people together in a time when we need people to come together,' said Lee, noting the No Kings protests happening just a few miles north of Sox park and around the country. 'It's not that normal that we're here like this and I love that that's what we're doing right now. We could all use a dose of energy and a word of encouragement about what it'll take for the world to get on a better path.' Da Pope-mania Many showed up at the event on Saturday wearing the 'Da Pope' paraphernalia that's popped up in stores and streetside stands around the city in the wake of Leo's election at the conclave on May 8. Silvia Campos and Miguel Angel Vazquez, South Side residents and regular Sox game goers, wore White Sox-styled pope shirts they picked up at a recent game. The jerseys include the number 14 on the back. 'It's a way to get closer to him,' said Vazquez. 'We wouldn't be able to get to Rome so for us this is the closest possible for now.' The White Sox could not be immediately reached about whether they will retire the number 14. Paul Konerko, who wore the number 14 and whom Leo rooted for at the 2005 World Series, already has his name up at the stadium. Among the other paraphernalia were jerseys outfitted with the keys of the Vatican and Leo's name set against Chicago's iconic skyline. Grace and Janice Carpenter wore a pair of visors they had outfitted to look like a bishop's mitre hat. Fernando Flores, a shirt vendor outside the stadium, said his outfit had sold 10,000 shirts in the weeks since Leo's election. 'I would compare it to a championship overnight,' said Flores, 45. 'It's a phenomenon where everyone wants a piece of it.' Shirts sell for $25. Pope Leo baseball cards from Topps were for sale outside the stadium for $20. Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIII cards were also for sale. Prayers for peace The event celebrating Leo convinced even die hard Cubs fans to head to the South Side park. 'I'm in enemy territory here, where do I go,' Raul Gomez asked staff outside the stadium. The 36-year-old North Side resident said it was his first time back at the stadium in 10 years. 'A whole stadium filled with Catholics, Pope Leo the first American pope, from Chicago, I needed to be a part of that,' he said. 'That lineage from Peter somehow goes through Chicago, how amazing is that.' Gomez was satisfied with how the first-place Cubs are doing but said Leo lends a hand to other Chicago teams. 'I'm hoping Leo does some kind of prayer for the Bears because they're deep in the hole,' he said. Friendly divisions between the North and the South sides were just part of what many hoped Leo will bridge. 'As a Latina, it's very meaningful to see somebody as pope who understands the reality of Latin America, of the poor,' said Teresa Montes-Lara, a Dominican nun originally from Mexico. 'I hope he challenges us in our faith and I want o hear something about migrants, about the radical obligation the church has.' Cupich raised the issue in his homily at the Mass. 'It is wrong to scapegoat people without documents, for indeed they are here due to a broken immigration system,' he said. 'They are here not by invasion but by invitation.' Others hoped for more personal intercession. Dr. Joy Henningsen said she flew in from Nashville for the event. The radiologist said she lived in the Chicago area until 2020. Her family was devoted to Pope John Paul II and attributes a miracle to the pope that led a doctor to discover a piece of glass near his heart when he was having heart trouble. 'I believe in the power of healing via the Holy Father so I'm here asking for healing and peace in the world,' said Henningsen. 'I would not miss this for the world.' Mound is waiting Among official speakers were those who knew Leo back in Chicago. Father John Merkelis, who belongs to the same Augustinian order as Leo and was his high school classmate, said he was emailing Leo in the days leading up to the conclave. 'He said he's sleeping well because an American is not going to be pope,' said Merkelis. Days later, the priests said he was at an Augustinian house shouting 'that's Prevost, that's Prevost' when Leo was announced. The Augustinian said Leo's a guy who can change a car's oil and is an excellent Wordle player. But he remembers him best as the man who waited past midnight to share his condolences when Merkeles got home after his dad died. 'He was there waiting on the stairs,' he said. 'He's a sensitive, sensitive man.' Dianne Bergant, a former teacher, said she remembered him as an excellent student but she also took the moment to celebrate the Chicago community that raised him. 'It says something about the education he got,' she said. Many at the stadium hoped the event was a pre-season for Leo in person. Brooks Boyer, a White Sox executive, said that the 'mounting is waiting' for Leo. 'Your holiness, you've always been one of us, you wear the Sox cap like it was made for you, on behalf of White Sox fans, we'd be happy to welcome you back for a first pitch,' Boyer said. 'We'll send a ball to the Vatican so your arm is prepared.'
