Eileen Gu defends halfpipe gold for 6th career Olympic medal
LIVIGNO, Italy — Maybe essentially the most staggering factor about Eileen Gu’s complete gold medal-winning day was she misplaced her steadiness on the primary trick in her first run.
Perhaps she is mortal?
But possibly not as Gu defended her Olympic ski halfpipe title on Sunday to make it six medals in six occasions over her Winter Games career.
“She is ‘Wonder Woman,'” New Zealand’s Mischa Thomas mentioned.
The 22-year-old Gu, American-born however competing for her mom’s homeland of China, is already essentially the most adorned freeskier within the quick historical past of the game on the Olympics. She additionally captured two silver medals on the Milan Cortina Games, to pair with two golds and a silver from the Beijing Games.
“The reason I love the records so much is that it’s not about man or woman,” Gu mentioned. “I’m the most decorated freeskier of all time, male or female. … That’s a testament to competitive strength, it’s mental strength. It’s being able to perform under pressure. It has nothing to (do with) if you’re a boy or a girl.”
Gu received the occasion on the energy of her second run, a clear, technically sound go. She acquired even higher in her ultimate run — pumping her ski poles after touchdown the ultimate trick — and completed with a rating of 94.75. Her teammate, Li Fanghui, took silver and Zoe Atkin of Britain was third.
“She is unreal,” Thomas mentioned of Gu. “It’s pretty crazy how good she is.”
The occasion was rescheduled to Sunday following an enormous snowstorm the night time earlier than. It was a vivid, sunny day as Gu shined within the ultimate occasion on the Livigno Snow Park. She shielded her eyes from the solar to catch a peek of her successful rating — and immediately what she preferred she noticed.
There had been fairly just a few Gu followers on the base of the halfpipe, holding up photos of her and waving flags.
“Being able to lead the way and pioneer the sport is something I never imagined I’d be able to do,” Gu mentioned. “But I’m really honored and proud that I have.”
Atkin, an American-born skier who competes for his father’s homeland of Britain, soared excessive all contest, a staggering 5.4 meters (18 ft) above the pipe at one level. She completed ninth on the Beijing Games however has been a gentle presence on World Cup podiums ever since. She has three victories over the past 4 years, all in occasions the place Gu did not compete.
The 23-year-old Atkin is the defending world champion.
“[Gu] is a really great competitor. She’s a really amazing skier,” mentioned Atkin, whose sister, Isabel, received an Olympic bronze in ski slopestyle on the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. “We have an amazing group of skiers as well. I think the level is truly unmatched, and I think that’s really special. I think that makes it really exciting to watch for the next coming years.”
Canada’s Amy Fraser echoed that.
“She’s a great skier, and she raises the level for everyone else, but she’s not unbeatable,” mentioned Fraser, who completed fourth. “I don’t think the level is untouchable.”
In her second run, Thomas dropped into the halfpipe — and dropped her telephone. It needed to be retrieved for Thomas. After the competitors, she reported: “My phone is great. Never been better.”
Svea Irving was a “DNS” — didn’t begin — within the American’s second run. She returned for a 3rd run however struggled to finish a maneuver and completed in eleventh.
Atkin took the lead after the primary run with a clean efficiency. Meanwhile, Gu misplaced her steadiness on her first trick and lower the run quick.
Cassie Sharpe of Canada sat out the ultimate after a tough crash in Thursday’s qualifying spherical. She received the gold within the occasion on the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and silver 4 years later in Beijing.
