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| Eileen Gu wins a silver at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. |
Eileen Gu's quest to sweep gold at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics hit a familiar Swiss-made snag Monday, as the San Francisco-born superstar took home the silver medal in the women’s freeski slopestyle.
Despite laying down a run she called the "best of her career," Gu was narrowly edged out by Switzerland’s Mathilde Gremaud, mirroring the podium finish from four years ago in Beijing.
A familiar rivalry
Competing for China, Gu opened the finals at Livigno Snow Park with a blistering 86.58 score. It was a statement run that featured back-to-back double corks and a custom-designed "dragon" ski suit meant to channel strength.
However, Gremaud—who has become Gu’s primary foil in this discipline—answered with an 86.96, a razor-thin margin of just 0.38 points.
“I really did overcome so much to get here,” Gu told Olympics.com. “The last four years have been challenging, to say the least. I've dealt with a number of injuries. A year ago, I had the worst concussion I've ever experienced. I had seizures afterwards. There were people concerned (whether) I'm going to wake up.
“So being able to compete and really showcase my best skiing -- that was my best slopestyle run that I’ve ever done, and I know that was Mathilde's best slopestyle that she has ever done as well -- to participate in pushing the sport at the level that it's at, is the highest honor for me.”
“I really did overcome so much to get here,” Gu told Olympics.com. “The last four years have been challenging, to say the least. I've dealt with a number of injuries. A year ago, I had the worst concussion I've ever experienced. I had seizures afterwards. There were people concerned (whether) I'm going to wake up.
“So being able to compete and really showcase my best skiing -- that was my best slopestyle run that I’ve ever done, and I know that was Mathilde's best slopestyle that she has ever done as well -- to participate in pushing the sport at the level that it's at, is the highest honor for me.”
Gu’s attempts to reclaim the lead were hampered by falls in her subsequent runs, including a slip on the top rail section that echoed a scare she survived during the qualification round.
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The 22-year-old made history at the 2022 Beijing Games when she became the first athlete to win three freestyle skiing medals at a single Olympics. Four years ago, she took gold in big air and halfpipe and silver in slopestyle.
Chinese media dubbed the 22-year-old "Snow Princess."
Questions about Gu's nationality arose again Monday during competition, with many wondering why the US-born athlete chose to compete for Team China even though she was a sure bet to make the US team in 2022. She admits that she has received plenty of hate on social media because of her decision.
Questions about Gu's nationality arose again Monday during competition, with many wondering why the US-born athlete chose to compete for Team China even though she was a sure bet to make the US team in 2022. She admits that she has received plenty of hate on social media because of her decision.
“In the US, growing up, I had so many amazing idols to look up to,” she told The AP during the last Olympics. “But in China, I feel like there are a lot fewer of those. I’d have a much greater impact in China than in the U.S., and that’s ultimately why I made that decision.”
What’s next
Gu isn't done yet. She remains the heavy favorite in her two strongest disciplines where she is the reigning Olympic champion:
- Big Air: Qualifiers begin Saturday, Feb. 14, with the finals scheduled for Monday, Feb. 16.
- Halfpipe: Her signature event kicks off with qualifying on Thursday, Feb. 19, and the gold medal final on Saturday, Feb. 21.
For the Asian American community watching from back home in the Bay Area, Gu remains a figure of intense fascination as she defies stereotypes -- a Stanford student majoring in quantum physics and global fashion icon who continues to navigate the complex "box" of dual identity while dominating on the world's biggest stage.
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge.
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