(Zhangjiakou) “Of course, I wish it was gold, I think everyone knows that. But I gave it my all, so I have no regrets. »
Posted at 7:59
Updated at 12:00 p.m.
The first question was a little cruel: is there any disappointment after winning this silver medal, a third medal at three consecutive Olympic Games, which no male freestyle skier had achieved before? ?
” No. For real, no, assured Mikaël Kingsbury on Saturday evening. The Olympics, basically, is stressful enough. Even when you are Olympic champion. I said to myself: “Hey, these Games are going to be cool. And I’m going to be cool at the top of the track.” »
Cool, he was a few minutes earlier, when setting off for his final run at the Beijing Games.
The athlete from Deux-Montagnes had repeated the scenario hundreds of times. Ikuma Horishima, his great rival in recent years, had done well, but nothing to scare him. With the wind blowing, he didn’t hear the score. His trainer Michel Hamelin told him. ” Okay that’s good, I got this “Replied his protege a few seconds before his departure.
Kingsbury did his usual trick, rolling down the slope like a metronome and landing two perfect jumps. Crossing the line, he raised his right fist, before bending over and throwing his skis into the snow, as if relieving himself of an enormous weight. His intuition was correct: he had outstripped Horishima.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Mikaël Kingsbury was satisfied with his run in the final.
There was only one finalist left at the top of the Secret Garden course: Walter Wallberg, a fast and strong Swede who claims 12 World Cup podiums, but no victory. To hope to dislodge the best hard worker of all time, he would have to achieve the descent of his life.
In 23.70 seconds, Wallberg clocked the fastest time in the final, swallowing those awkward bumps at breakneck pace, without making a single mistake. His jumps had nothing to envy to those of the Quebecer.
When I leaned against the wall and he crossed the finish line, I said: “Phew! It’s going to be tough!”
Mikael Kingsbury
The judges confirmed his fears, awarding a little more than one point more to the 21-year-old Swede, who thus succeeded the Canadian on the Olympic throne. Essentially, it came down to speed.
“He pushed his last run maybe more than we all imagined,” admitted Kingsbury. When I saw my score, I was like, “Yeah, Walter needs to get a big one out.” That’s exactly what he did, he succeeded. It’s cool for him and fully deserved. »
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Mikael Kingsbury, Walter Wallberg and Ikuma Horishima
The post-race
Kingsbury knows Wallberg well, having coached him at a clinic in Sweden seven or eight years ago. “He’s a good guy, who comes from a good family, very hardworking and also passionate about his sport. »
The new champion did not hide his joy at succeeding his lifelong idol.
I have admired Mik since I started skiing. I remember I asked him how he prepared his skis, his stuff in the bumps. It’s very special.
Walter Wallberg
Before the start of the press conference, Wallberg spoke briefly with the Prime Minister of Sweden. “She was impressed with my skiing. She asked me how I was going to celebrate. She told me that the restrictions [contre la COVID-19] were lifted. It will probably be special…”
He invited Kingsbury to accompany him. Isolated in his bubble for more than a month, the triple Olympic medalist seemed interested.
On the stand, the vice-champion had photos taken on his phone. “It’s for my mother,” he told the Canadian team’s press officer. Far from his family for these very special Games, he wanted to share his experience since his arrival in China. On his helmet decorated with the maple leaf, he had the name of each member of his extended family inscribed, as well as that of all his collaborators.
After the podium ceremony, where Horishima occupied the third step, he had a small meeting with all his coaches. One of them ruffled his hair after he took off his helmet. “Ost… you’re hot! “, launched him Michel Hamelin, who accompanies him since the beginning of the Olympic cycle.
“You see his face when he got on the podium, noted the coach. There is a disappointment. We work hard, it’s been four years, he has won a lot of World Cups. His goal was also to prop up a little what[Alexandre] Bilodeau had done two gold medals in line. Of course there is disappointment, but we are very proud of our process. »
At 29, Kingsbury is aware that he is getting old in a high-impact sport like his.
The motivation is still there. That I completed 20and or won, I love what I do. I don’t know yet if I will have the chance to take part in the next Games. I don’t want to look too far ahead. I want to continue to practice my sport, but we will take it one year at a time.
Mikael Kingsbury
For now, it’s time to go home, “drop the mask a bit”, and put that silver medal on the fireplace mantel in Saint-Sauveur.