Winter Olympics Star Eileen Gu Slams Organisers Over Unfair Practice Time
Winter Olympics champion Eileen Gu has publicly criticised organisers of the Milan and Cortina Games after her request for equal practice time with rivals was rejected. The 22-year-old Chinese athlete, who is competing in all three free-skiing disciplines, expressed frustration over a scheduling clash that prevents her from preparing adequately for the halfpipe event.
The Scheduling Conflict and Request Denial
Gu, who has already secured a silver medal in slopestyle and is competing in big air, faces a direct conflict between the big air final on Monday and the halfpipe practice session she needs to attend. As the only woman participating in all three free-skiing events at this year's Games, she approached the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) for assistance but was unsuccessful in her appeal.
"First Big Air contest in four years and we're into finals," Gu told her 2.2 million followers. "Unfortunately, [FIS] has scheduled big air finals and pipe training with 100% overlap. This means I'll now be missing an entire day of pipe training."
Gu's Proposed Solutions and Disappointment
The athlete revealed she had suggested several fair alternatives to the FIS, including joining one training session with snowboarders or receiving even one hour of solo training time. However, all her proposals were rejected by the governing body.
"No other woman in the halfpipe field is competing in another event, and for good reason," Gu explained. "Halfpipe is different from slope and big air, and demands its own training time accordingly."
Gu expressed particular disappointment that her willingness to compete across multiple disciplines appears to be penalised rather than supported. "Daring to be the only woman to compete in three events should not be penalised," she stated. "Making finals in one event should not disadvantage me in another."
Questioning the Olympic Spirit
The Winter Olympics champion questioned what message this decision sends to future athletes who might wish to compete across multiple skiing disciplines. She emphasised that the Olympics should represent a platform where athletes can push boundaries and achieve the seemingly impossible.
"The Olympics is the stage upon which miracles materialise and the impossible ceases to be so right before our very eyes," Gu said. "It inspires both athletes and sports lovers to dream big and break limits. This decision is disappointing to me because it seems to contradict the spirit of the games."
Despite her frustration, Gu remains committed to giving her best performance in the upcoming big air final. "I am proud of myself for being willing to give big air my best shot," she concluded. "I am looking forward to competing tomorrow night under the lights with this incredible field of women."
The situation highlights ongoing challenges in Olympic scheduling and athlete support, particularly for those attempting unprecedented athletic feats across multiple disciplines.
