Eileen Gu, the Chinese-American freestyle skier, secured her first gold medal of the 2026 Milan Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics in the women’s halfpipe event on Friday, February 22nd, adding to a growing list of accolades that now includes a record six Olympic medals in freestyle skiing. The victory came after a challenging start to her campaign in Italy, where she previously won silver medals in both the big air and slopestyle competitions.
Gu’s winning run in the halfpipe final saw her score 94.75 on her third and final attempt, successfully defending her title from the 2022 Beijing Olympics. China’s Li Fanghui claimed the silver medal with a score of 93.00, completing a one-two finish for the Chinese team. Great Britain’s Zoe Atkin took the bronze.
The gold medal is Gu’s third Olympic gold and her sixth medal, surpassing Canadian freestyle skier Mikael Kingsbury as the most decorated athlete in the history of the sport. She is also the first athlete to win three medals at two consecutive Winter Olympics in freestyle skiing. Gu’s performance marks a significant achievement for China, contributing to a total of five gold, four silver, and six bronze medals for the nation at these Games – a record for China in overseas Winter Olympics competitions.
The victory wasn’t without its drama. Gu struggled in her first run of the final, scoring only 30.00 points after a fall. She rebounded with a score of 94.00 in her second attempt, putting her in contention for the gold. Prior to the final, Gu had qualified for the event in fifth place.
Gu’s success at the Milan Cortina d’Ampezzo Games has been shadowed by personal tragedy. Following her win, she learned of the passing of her maternal grandmother, a loss she described as deeply affecting. “I found out after my last run that my grandma passed away,” Gu said, visibly emotional. “I was dreaming about her last night… I grasp she’s watching over me.”
The 22-year-classic athlete, born in San Francisco to a Chinese mother and an American father, has faced scrutiny and debate over her decision to compete for China rather than the United States. Despite the attention, she has consistently emphasized her connection to her Chinese heritage and her desire to promote the sport in China. Gu is now the first athlete to defend a gold medal in the women’s freestyle ski halfpipe event at the Winter Olympics.
Gu’s next competitive appearance remains unconfirmed, but she is expected to continue competing at the highest level, with the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps as a potential future goal.
