The 2026 Milan Winter Olympics have seen yet another champion crowned, with Swiss skier Mathilde Gremaud winning gold in women’s freeski slopestyle. She defeated Eileen Gu (silver) by a narrow margin of 0.38 points with her second-run score of 86.96. Gu finished with a score of 86.58, while Megan Oldham of Canada took bronze with 76.46.
This marks yet another gold for Gremaud, who defended her Olympic slopestyle title after her initial victory at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. She edged Gu, who is ranked amongst the top-earning Olympians with approximately $23 million in annual earnings, to the gold medal in those Games as well.
Everything To Know About Mathilde Gremaud
Mathilde Gremaud was born on February 8, 2000, in Fribourg, Switzerland, and first tasted the thrill of skiing at just two years old, guided by her father Stéphane, a former skier. By 16, she had already burst onto the freestyle scene, landing her first World Cup podium in Milan. Alongside her sisters Jeanne and Elsa, Mathilde grew up in Fribourg, nurtured by parents who shared her love for the slopes.
In 2017, Mathilde captured big air gold at the X Games, announcing herself as a rising star in freestyle skiing. Her momentum carried her to the 2018 Olympics, where she claimed slopestyle silver. After seizing gold in Beijing 2022, she made history by becoming the first athlete to simultaneously hold both Olympic and world slopestyle titles, following her 2023 World Championship victory.
Away from the slopes, Mathilde finds joy kayaking on Lake Gruyère, mountain biking, wake surfing, hiking, and discovering the hidden gems of her beloved Gruyère region.
Gremaud On Her Mindset After Suffering Major Injury
In early 2025, a training accident left Gremaud with a neck injury and concussion just ahead of the World Championships, prompting her to step back and take a much-needed pause from competition.
“I was feeling too much stress from different places. I may be a daredevil, but definitely not impulsive. I’ve never really been injured [before this],” she said, as per Red Bull. “I had to find out who I was when I didn’t have my skis on. I asked my parents about what I was like as a kid so that I could see what might have changed. I realised that I actually love to be around people. I don’t need anyone to hold my hand, but I like to feel safe with people I trust around me.”
The break proved invaluable for Gremaud, who returned stronger than ever to claim her second consecutive freeski slopestyle World Championship gold in March 2025, thrilling fans on home snow in Engadin, Switzerland, ahead of Lara Wolf and Megan Oldham.
