'What have we just witnessed?': Japanese star finishes duel backwards in chaotic ending to moguls quarter finals
It was a chaotic start to the men's dual moguls, with most who went down the blue course quickly losing control and spinning out towards the surrounding barriers.
While there were no major tumbles, many athletes saw their time in the event cut short.
Australia's George Murphy and Cooper Woods were both victims of the blue course chaos, unable to handle the speed after landing their respective first jumps.
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But it was one Japanese rider's mistake that left all in Livingo in awe.
America's Nick Page was facing Ikuma Horishima in the round of 16, with both athletes getting off to a flying start before things swung out of control.
Page unravelled shortly after landing his first jump, flying out of the course boundaries, meaning regardless of if he got to the finish line, he would not get a score.
Ikuma Horishima crashes in the Men's Dual Moguls 1/8 Finals against Nick Page. Getty
Seconds after Page went towards the boundary, Horishima also lost control and flew towards the second jump ramp, flying through the air and remarkably performing a front flip.
However, the flip appeared to be more of a failed attempt to regain control as he landed on one foot and fell to the ground on the final section of the course.
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In remarkable scenes, Horishima managed to roll back onto his feet and finish the race sliding backwards. Page followed over the line shortly afterwards.
"Oh my goodness, he is coming across backwards," Australian moguls great Britt Cox said during her call for Nine.
Ikuma Horishima crosses the finish line backwards after a fall. Getty
"It is chaos out here on the moguls course."
"What was that we just witnessed? That was crazy," Todd Woodbridge added.
"I knew this was going to be an exciting duel, but I was not expecting that," Cox replied.
Cheers from the crowd lifted as the pair embraced at the finish line, before another roar echoed as a replay of the duel was shown on the surrounding screens.
Gold medalist Mikael Kingsbury (C), silver medalist Ikuma Horishima (L) and bronze medalist Matt Graham. Getty
Horishima eventually went on to qualify for the gold medal race, where he fell just short Canada's king of moguls, Mikael Kingsbury.
Australia's Matt Graham took home the bronze medal.
The silver medal in the dual moguls marked Horishima's second podium at Milano Cortina 2026, having won bronze in the single moguls, won by Australian Cooper Woods.
Woods was eliminated in the round 16 of the dual moguls but was in awe of the "switch" finish from the Japanese ace.
"A course like this at the moment and the way the duals format works, no mistakes, there's people exploding everywhere, left, right and centre, (Horishima) was going switch before, you know, you've really got to fight (to emerge from each battle in the dual format)," Woods told Australian reporters, including Wide World of Sports, after he was eliminated.
- with Ben Glover in Livigno
