In a thrilling conclusion to her eighth World Cup season, Park City aerialist Kaila Kuhn secured her first World Cup victory on January 12, 2026, at the Stifel Lake Placid Freestyle World Cup in Lake Placid, New York. This monumental win not only marked a significant achievement in Kuhn’s career but also solidified her qualification for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. Kuhn delivered an impressive performance, executing a full-full-full jump that earned her a score of 105.60, placing her at the top of the leaderboard. As the last competitor in the final round, she displayed remarkable composure, flashing a thumbs up and a half-smile as she awaited the results. The atmosphere was electric, with the home crowd erupting in applause as it was confirmed that Kuhn had claimed victory. "I can’t describe this feeling at all," she said in an interview with FIS, the international governing body for professional skiing. "World championships gave me the confidence that it took to go out and do this jump today." Kuhn's primary competition came from China’s Xu Mengtao, who nearly matched her score with a solid 105.17, finishing in second place. Australia’s Danielle Scott rounded out the podium with a score of 85.65. The event was particularly notable as it was Lake Placid’s second women’s aerials competition of the weekend, following a similar event the day prior. In that earlier competition, Kuhn had also performed admirably, finishing third behind Scott and Mengtao, while fellow American Kyra Dossa placed 12th in the finals. The men’s aerials event that same day saw no American competitors advance to the finals, marking a challenging day for the U.S. men’s team. However, Derek Krueger, another Park City aerialist, narrowly missed the podium in the previous day's competition, finishing fourth. The addition of Monday’s events was necessitated by the cancellation of the Deer Valley World Cup, which had originally been scheduled for the same period. Kuhn’s victory is particularly sweet given her recent performances at the World Championships held in Switzerland, where she captured both individual and mixed team gold medals in aerials. This success has undoubtedly bolstered her confidence and performance heading into the Olympics. "I’m so happy," Kuhn expressed following her win. "Especially coming into this Olympics, this was a cherry on top of the World Cup season." With her win in Lake Placid, Kuhn not only secured a place on the Olympic team but also finished the World Cup season ranked third overall in the world and as the top-ranked American woman in aerials. She is joined by fellow American aerialists Quinn Dehlinger, Winter Vinecki, and Chris Lillis, all of whom have also qualified for the upcoming Winter Games. Kuhn’s achievement is particularly noteworthy as she aims to improve on her eighth-place finish at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. On the men’s side, Dehlinger was the highest-ranked American, finishing in 10th place for the season, with Chris Lillis closely behind in 11th. China’s Wang Xindi captured the men’s Crystal Globe, awarded to the top finisher in the men’s aerials category for the season. Reflecting on her victory, Kuhn stated, "There is no better place where I would want to get my first World Cup win. Ending the season with a win, especially going into the Olympics, is a huge confidence boost, and I will be going into the Olympics this year with this win in the back of my mind." With her newfound momentum, fans and teammates alike are eager to see how Kuhn will perform at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan. As the excitement builds for the Olympic Games, Kuhn's victory serves as a reminder of the dedication and perseverance required to excel in such a competitive sport. Her journey has inspired many young athletes in Park City and beyond, and her success at the World Cup is a testament to her hard work and talent. With the Olympics just around the corner, all eyes will be on Kuhn as she aims to bring home a medal and continue to make her mark in the world of freestyle skiing.