The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan have been a highly successful campaign for Eileen Gu, the renowned Chinese-American freestyle skier. Gu, who came into the Games looking to add to her impressive Olympic medal tally of 3, competed in the slopestyle and big air events this past week. She grabbed silver in the slopestyle on Feb. 9, with Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland grabbing gold.
On Feb. 16, Gu returned to the big air stage, delivering a thrilling performance that earned her the silver medal with a score of 179.0, just a heartbeat behind Canada’s Megan Oldham, who edged her out with 180.75.
Eileen Gu On Her Big Air Silver Medal
In her last Olympic appearance at the Beijing 2022 Games, which was her Olympic debut, Gu delivered a historic performance. She claimed gold in big air, gold in halfpipe, and silver in slopestyle, becoming the first freestyle skier to win three medals at a single Games.
After her big air triumph, Gu took a moment to reflect on the significance of reaching the five-medal milestone in her Olympic journey.
“Five-time Olympic medalist kinda has a ring to it, doesn’t it? It feels really special, especially for me to win it on Chinese New Year, it represents a time of change and opening and new beginnings, and for me I guess my new beginning is competing in big air for the first time in four years. And so walking away with a medal is nothing short of incredible, so special,” she stated.
Gu added by saying that the Olympics helps athletes drive to perform to their highest level:
“That’s what I love so much about the Olympics. I think it really encourages every athlete to not only peak at the right time, but really show the world their very best skiing at the moment when it really counts. It means a lot to me, especially on Chinese New Year to showcase my best skiing, to do tricks that I’ve never competed before, and really just have the best time.”
Gu will be competing next in Milan in the halfpipe event on Feb. 19, which will mark her final event of the Games.
Gu’s path to Milan was paved with a standout 2025-26 season, highlighted by World Cup victories in the halfpipe at Secret Garden, China, and slopestyle in Laax, Switzerland. Her dominance across big air, halfpipe, and slopestyle secured China’s top spots for the Games.
Gu will now be looking to grab her third Olympic gold medal later this week and add to what has been a storied career so far.
