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In an exhilarating display of athletic prowess, freestyle skier Eileen Gu clinched the gold medal in the women’s freeski halfpipe event on the closing day of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. The event, held in the picturesque town of Livigno in the Province of Sondrio, marked a historic moment for the 22-year-old athlete.
Gu, who was among the top contenders, achieved her ambitious goal of securing a sixth Olympic medal. Her victory in the halfpipe added to her impressive collection, making her the only athlete to win three medals across two consecutive Winter Games since the introduction of big air in the Olympic program four years ago.
Throughout the 2026 Winter Games, Gu demonstrated remarkable consistency and skill, having already secured silver medals in both the slopestyle and big air events. Her achievements continue to solidify her standing as a dominant force in the world of freestyle skiing.
Interestingly, both Eileen Gu and her fellow competitor Zoe Atkin share a unique background. Though born in the United States, they represent different countries on the Olympic stage—Gu competes for China while Atkin represents Great Britain. Their performances have captivated audiences, adding an international flair to the competition and showcasing the global nature of the Olympic spirit.
Gu and Zoe Atkin were two favorites going into Sunday’s event. Both were born in the U.S. but compete at the Olympics for other countries. Gu competes for China, and Atkin for Great Britain.
Gu finished in first with a score of 94.75, and Atkin finished in third with a score 92.50.
Team USA’s Kate Gray and Svea Irving finished in 10th and 11th place, respectively.
In halfpipe qualifications, Gu shook off a fall to advance to the final. She won gold in the event four years ago in Beijing.
Athletes who live in one country and compete for another are not new in international sports. Throw some Olympic rings on it, then add a high-profile athlete enjoying tremendous success the way Gu has, and it turns into something messy.
“So many athletes compete for a different country,” Gu said after Thursday night’s qualifying put her in the mix for her third medal of these Games. “People only have a problem with me doing it because they kind of lump China into this monolithic entity, and they just hate China. So it’s not really about what they think it’s about.”
She was responding to a question stemming from the latest comments that drew her into the headlines: U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance told Fox News earlier in the week he would hope someone who benefitted from growing up in the United States, the way Gu has, would want to compete under its flag.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.