Mikaël Kingsbury | “Henrik has become my priority”

For the vast majority of his life, Mikaël Kingsbury had only one priority: skiing. Three months ago, things changed. The skier now has a new priority, and it has a name: Henrik. A few days before his 15th^e season on the world circuit, the man with the 26 crystal globes is starting to talk about retiring in 2026…

For the first time, Mikaël Kingsbury’s preseason press conference did not revolve around his goals, his crystal globes and his records on Tuesday. Little Henrik, to whom the skier’s partner gave birth three months ago, was at the heart of the discussions.

“It’s the most beautiful thing in the world,” said the snow acrobat in the first seconds of virtual media availability. “All my life, skiing has been my priority. There, suddenly, there is someone who goes over that. »

Kingsbury spoke to us live from his condo in Finland, where he is living ahead of his first World Cup of the season, this weekend in Ruka. His partner and Henrik accompanied him this time.

“I couldn’t see myself leaving for five weeks,” explained the 32-year-old skier. […] I think it will help me perform, just having them [avec moi]. »

As is the case with most new parents, the first few weeks required some adaptation for the athlete, especially when it came to sleep. So he spent less time than usual on his skis during the off-season. It is nevertheless, we guess, a lesser evil compared to everything that this little human seems to bring him.

“In the past, I often had the hamster that kept running [à la fin de la journée]. I was always thinking about skiing, about what I was going to do the next day. [Henrik] really allows me to stay in the present moment. I find that it brings a nice balance to my life. I am less often shocked; It seems like I’m enjoying each of my runs more. »

The “last dance” is approaching

Mikaël Kingsbury is not the first nor the last athlete to become a father during his sporting career. On the men’s freestyle skiing world circuit alone, two other athletes became fathers in 2024: Ikuma Horishima and Matt Graham. “All three of us were on the podium during the last singles of the season,” noted the Quebecer.

Many amateur athletes have spoken about the benefits of having a child in their lives. Kingsbury has the advantage, he noted, of having “a good baby who already sleeps through most of the night,” which “helps dad a lot to get on the mountain and ski well.”

“There’s a lot of things I’ve figured out over the last few months and I think it’s just going to help me as an athlete to sometimes put everything into perspective. I already feel it in my skiing, in the way I behave on the mountain. Sometimes things that I found so serious in skiing are so nothing in life… I think it will help me make better decisions in future races. »

Obviously, the arrival of Henrik brought new thoughts to the native of Deux-Montagnes. Reflections on his future, on the rest of his career. At 32, with a track record as good as his own, Kingsbury has nothing left to prove. The 2025 World Championships will, in all likelihood, be his last.

“There are certain sports you can play and be at home. […] When skiing, you have to look for snow all the time. It makes things difficult. I want to be present, I want to be there [pour mon fils]. I’m not saying for sure I want to quit in 2026, but there’s a good chance. »

Kingsbury has said it often and said it again Tuesday: “I could retire tomorrow and I would be satisfied with what I did. »

“I know I still have a lot of skiing in my body. I continue to age well. I feel like I’m always better. I’m not looking forward to hanging up my skis, but I know I’m closer to the end than the beginning. »

Father, then skier

In view of the 2026 Olympic Games, which will undoubtedly also be his last, Mikaël Kingsbury will have the challenge of managing his schedule and his training volume.

Performance-wise, the goal will be to add victories and crystal globes to the tally, like every season. At the World Championships, he will aim for gold, and gold only. “I’m going to introduce myself upstairs. [de la montagne] with eight career titles; the goal is not to get a silver or bronze medal, it is to win. »

And if he doesn’t win, it won’t be the end of the world. You just have to listen to him speak to understand him.

“I realize now that [le ski] is just a small part of my life. Henrik and my family are my priority now and skiing comes second. But I know I can still win. »