The highly anticipated women's freestyle skiing halfpipe final at the 2026 Winter Games has been postponed by one full day due to severe weather conditions. A powerful blizzard swept through the mountains of Livigno on Saturday, dumping persistent heavy snow and forcing organizers to delay the competition.
Official Postponement Due to Safety Concerns
Organizers issued a formal message to all teams explaining the decision. 'Unfortunately due to persistent heavy snow and the inability to prepare the pipe in a safe and fair condition, the jury has made the decision to postpone the women's halfpipe finals to tomorrow, Sunday the 22nd,' the statement read. 'The proposed plan is tomorrow morning awaiting official confirmation.' This postponement directly impacts the gold medal showdown between two of the sport's biggest stars.
Top Contenders Forced to Wait
Team GB's Zoe Atkin, the two-time X Games halfpipe champion and reigning world gold medalist, had qualified in first place for the final. Her biggest rival is defending champion Eileen Gu, the former US athlete now competing for China, who qualified in fifth position. Chinese teammate Fanghui Li, who qualified second, also remains a major contender for the podium.
Zoe Atkin enters the rescheduled final as the top qualifier, having demonstrated exceptional form throughout the competition. Meanwhile, Eileen Gu has faced significant challenges beyond the weather, including three falls during Thursday's qualifying round and substantial public criticism regarding her decision to represent China.
Gu's Controversial Olympic Journey
Eileen Gu, who was born and raised on the west coast of the United States, has come under heavy criticism from American viewers during these Games for choosing to compete for China. The 22-year-old athlete has won two silver medals so far but revealed she has felt like a 'punching bag' throughout her time in Italy.
When asked by USA Today if she feels targeted by American political sentiment, Gu responded: 'I do. So many athletes compete for a different country… people only have a problem with me doing it because they kind of lump China into this monolithic entity, and they just hate China. So it's not really about what they think it's about.'
She added: 'And also, because I win. Like if I wasn't doing well, I think that they probably wouldn't care as much, and that's OK for me. People are entitled to their opinions.'
Allegations of Harassment and Assault
Earlier this month, Gu claimed to The Athletic that she was physically assaulted on the street near Stanford University after deciding against competing for Team USA. 'The police were called,' she stated. 'I've had death threats. I've had my dorm robbed.'
Gu also alleged that a petition was launched by parents of Chinese-American students attempting to keep her out of Stanford University, where she enrolled in the fall of 2022. Her mother is originally from China, which influenced Gu's decision to represent her maternal homeland in international competition.
Sunday's Rescheduled Final
All eyes will now turn to Sunday morning's rescheduled final, where Atkin and Gu will finally have their long-awaited showdown. The extra day of preparation could prove crucial for both athletes, particularly Gu who has struggled with consistency during qualifying. The weather conditions in Livigno are expected to improve significantly, allowing for proper course preparation and fair competition conditions.
This postponement marks another dramatic chapter in what has already been a controversial and emotionally charged Olympic Games for Eileen Gu, while Zoe Atkin seeks to capitalize on her qualifying performance to secure what would be a monumental gold medal for Team GB.
