Emotional Victory for Gu

Olympic champion Eileen Gu claimed gold in the half-pipe event at the Milano-Cortina Games on Sunday, but the victory was tinged with sadness as she learned of her grandmother’s passing shortly after competing. Gu, who represents China, was raised in San Francisco by her mother and maternal grandmother, Feng Guozhen.

The 22-year-old is now the most decorated freeskier of all time, adding to her impressive collection of medals. She has two silvers (slopestyle and Huge Air) and a gold from Milano-Cortina, alongside two golds and a silver from the Beijing Games four years ago.

A Promise Kept

Gu arrived late to her press conference after receiving the news. Visibly emotional, she shared her feelings about her grandmother’s impact on her life.

“The reason I was late is that I just found out that my grandma passed away. She was a really big part of my life growing up and someone I looked up to immensely.”

Eileen Gu

Gu described her grandmother as a steamship, emphasizing her strength and determination. She revealed that she knew her grandmother was ill and had prepared herself for the possibility of this outcome.

“The last time I saw her before I came to the Olympics, she was incredibly sick so I knew that this was a possibility. I didn’t promise her that I was going to win but I did promise her that I was going to be brave like she has been brave, and that’s why I keep referring to this theme of betting on myself and being brave and taking risks.”

Eileen Gu

A Historic Performance

Gu secured the gold medal with an unbeatable score of 94.75 in her final run. Compatriot Li Fanghui took silver, and Great Britain’s Zoe Atkin earned bronze.

Earlier, Gu reflected on her overall performance at the Games.

“I’m so proud of how I’ve done this Olympics. I walk away as the most decorated free skier of all time, male or female, and the most gold medals of any free skier ever, male or female. And that is something that I’m so, so proud of. It’s unbelievable to me. It’s still surreal.”

Eileen Gu

Gu highlighted the challenge of competing in three events, emphasizing the need for consistent peak performance.

“I chose to do three events knowing that I had to train half-pipe in two months, knowing that I would miss the half-pipe training in case I made Big Air finals, which I also hadn’t competed in in four years…Being able to really trust myself that when it came down to the moment, that I would be able to perform to the best of my ability regardless of medal colour or medal in general – that’s a big bet.”

Eileen Gu

Looking Ahead

Gu’s victory is a testament to her skill, dedication, and the unwavering support of her family. She continues to inspire fans worldwide with her athletic achievements and her ability to overcome adversity.