Eileen Gu's Emotional Gold Medal Victory Marred by Personal Loss
Winter Olympics superstar Eileen Gu has disclosed that she learned of her grandmother's death mere moments after securing the freeski halfpipe gold medal at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Games. The 22-year-old athlete successfully defended her title in Livigno, with her mother present to witness the final. However, the joy of victory swiftly turned to heartbreak when she received the devastating news she had feared might arrive during the competition.
A Heartbreaking Revelation at the Press Conference
Gu broke down in tears as she explained her tardiness to the post-event press conference. "The reason I was late is that I just found out that my grandma passed away," the Chinese champion stated. "She was a really big part of my life growing up and someone I looked up to immensely." Despite her clear devastation, Gu immediately reflected on the profound inspiration her grandmother, Feng, provided.
"She was such a strong person, she was a fighter. I think what's interesting is a lot of people just cruise through life, but she was a steamship," Gu elaborated. "This woman commanded life and she grabbed it by the reins and she made it into what she wanted it to be. She inspired me so much."
A Promise of Bravery and Resilience
Gu acknowledged that she had anticipated this possibility, having last seen her grandmother before the Olympics when she was very ill. "I didn't promise her that I was going to win but I did promise her that I was going to be brave like she has been brave," Gu shared. "And that's why I keep referring to this theme of betting on myself and being brave and taking risks. It actually goes back to that promise that I made my grandma."
She expressed happiness at upholding that promise and hoped to make her grandmother proud, but also admitted it was a difficult time. "I really apologise for being late but that's what was going on. Sorry," Gu concluded emotionally.
Gu's Remarkable Olympic Journey and Performance
This gold medal marked Gu's first of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics, following two silver medals, and maintained her perfect medal record across six events since her debut at Beijing 2022. The US-born athlete was the sole woman to compete in halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air, a demanding quest that limited her training, rest, and sometimes her sanity, though never her confidence.
"I'm not a gambling woman, but if I were, I took a pretty big bet on myself," Gu remarked. "There was a chance everything could go wrong and I could have walked away with nothing, because I was trying to do too much. But in my head, even if everything crashes and burns, I tried. I'll never regret trying."
Overcoming Challenges on the Slopes
The risk of overextending herself became apparent during the first run of the final in Livigno, where the halfpipe was bathed in sun on one side and shade on the other after a snowstorm postponed the event. Gu lost balance on her initial jump, forcing her to abandon the run. Each of her qualifying rounds at these Olympics involved a fall and a critical recovery, which she managed every time to reach the final.
In the halfpipe, widely regarded as the premier event in freeskiing and where Gu has won 15 of her 20 World Cup titles, the odds of her not landing any of her three runs seemed slim. Indeed, she not only achieved the best score among the 32 runs by 11 athletes but also secured the top two scores overall. Her second run earned a 94, and her final run scored 94.75.
Historic Finish and Technical Mastery
Li Fanghui secured silver, making it the first 1-2 finish for China in the event. Li admitted that while she "tried for gold," Gu's presence meant her "first goal was for silver." Gu's victory was attributed to her ability to fly higher than almost everyone except bronze medallist Zoe Atkin, execute more rotations than any competitor—highlighted by two 900-degree spins in opposite directions—and attempt one more trick than Li, with Gu performing six tricks compared to Li's five, a key factor in her 1.75-point win.
