Eileen Gu claimed gold in the women's ski halfpipe final at the Winter Olympics in Livigno, delivering a stunning final run that scored 94.75. The victory marks her third medal of the Milano Cortina Games, matching her haul from Beijing 2022. Gu, who switched allegiance from the US to China in 2019, once again proved her dominance in the freeskiing world.
However, controversy surrounded the bronze medal awarded to Britain's Zoe Atkin, who scored 92.5. GB Snowsport chief executive Vicky Gosling expressed disbelief, stating she believed Atkin deserved at least silver. Atkin's coach, Joe Schuster, diplomatically noted that judging is difficult but admitted he would not have been surprised had she placed higher. Atkin's final run featured greater amplitude than Gu's, yet her score fell short.
Atkin herself was delighted to secure bronze, equalling her sister Izzy's achievement from Pyeongchang 2018. "I was so stressed and nervous, so I'm just super stoked," she said. Schuster declared the event the greatest women's halfpipe final ever, though British observers felt the scoring was harsh on their athlete.
Gu, a 22-year-old Stanford University student and IMG model, is the highest-paid athlete at these Games. Her decision to compete for China has drawn criticism, but she remains unapologetic. Speaking after her victory, Gu reflected on her mental approach: "I get to become every day the kind of person that me, at age eight, would revere. I would be obsessed with me today."
She later broke down in tears upon learning that her grandmother, Feng Guozhen, had been watching. Gu described the pressure of competing multiple times as akin to a marathon at the pace of a 100m dash, but emphasised her willingness to take risks. With six Olympic medals, she is now the most decorated freeskier in history.
