Eileen Gu Bounces Back from Crash to Secure Big Air Final Spot
Defending gold medalist Eileen Gu has successfully qualified for the women's big air final in freestyle skiing at the Winter Olympics, demonstrating remarkable resilience after shaking off a dramatic fall during the qualifying rounds. The 22-year-old athlete, who represents China despite being born in San Francisco, faced a critical moment when she crashed on her second jump, making her third and final attempt absolutely essential for advancement.
Qualifying Drama Under the Lights
In the qualifying competition held on Saturday night, skiers needed to land two successful jumps, with their combined scores determining their position. Gu began strongly by nailing her first jump, but then suffered a significant crash on her second run. This setback placed immense pressure on her final attempt, which she executed flawlessly to secure her place among the top twelve riders advancing to Monday's final.
The Livigno big air ramp, constructed on scaffolding, sends athletes soaring down a slope exceeding 40 meters (44 yards) in height. The nighttime event was illuminated by powerful floodlights, creating a dramatic backdrop for the high-stakes competition. Gu finished with the second-best overall score of 170.75 points, trailing only Megan Oldham of Canada who led with 171.75 points. Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland claimed third position with 169 points.
Olympic History and Current Campaign
Eileen Gu made history four years ago at the Beijing Games when, as an 18-year-old, she won gold in big air. Her 2022 performance was particularly remarkable as she also claimed gold in the halfpipe and silver in slopestyle, becoming the first freestyle skier ever to win three medals at a single Olympic Games. This year at the Milan-Cortina Games, she has already repeated as slopestyle silver medalist on Monday, while Gremaud successfully defended her gold from 2022.
Gu now aims to defend her halfpipe title later in the competition, potentially adding to her already impressive Olympic legacy. Her journey continues to attract significant attention not only for her athletic achievements but also for her decision to compete for China rather than the United States.
Controversy and Commercial Success
The skier's choice to represent China has generated both commercial success and controversy. Over the past year, Gu has reportedly earned approximately $23 million, though only about $20,000 of that substantial fortune came directly from her skiing endeavors. This financial disparity highlights how her decision to compete for China has opened access to a billion-dollar market, while simultaneously drawing criticism from some American observers who have labeled her a 'traitor.'
Gu has addressed her decision in previous interviews, explaining to the Associated Press during the last Olympics: 'In the US, growing up, I had so many amazing idols to look up to. But in China, I feel like there are a lot fewer of those. I'd have a much greater impact in China than in the US, and that's ultimately why I made that decision.' She further elaborated to ESPN in 2021, stating: 'Since I was little, I've always said when I'm in the US, I'm American, but when I'm in China, I'm Chinese.'
Despite the controversy surrounding her national representation, Gu's focus remains on the competition as she prepares for Monday's big air final, where she will attempt to defend her Olympic title against a field of world-class competitors including Oldham and Gremaud.
