Laura Woods has come out in support of Eileen Gu after the American-born skier, now representing China, won gold in the women's halfpipe final at the Winter Olympics in Livigno. The victory, however, was overshadowed by a scoring controversy involving Britain's Zoe Atkin, who took bronze.
Atkin, the world champion, landed a spectacular final run with impressive height, but was awarded 92.5 points, behind Gu's 94.75 and Li Fanghui's 93.00. GB Snowsport chief executive Vicky Gosling expressed disappointment, stating she believed Atkin deserved at least silver. Atkin's coach, Joe Schuster, was more diplomatic, saying he would not have been surprised if she had finished higher.
Despite the controversy, Atkin was thrilled to match her sister Izzy's bronze from 2018. Gu, meanwhile, celebrated her sixth Olympic medal, becoming the most decorated freeskier in history. She described the competition as a marathon at the pace of a 100m dash, and expressed pride in her achievements.
Gu also addressed her critics, emphasising her introspective nature and determination to improve. She broke down in tears after learning her grandmother had passed away, showing a human side to the athlete often seen as robotic. Laura Woods backed Gu, praising her resilience and performance under pressure.
