Defending Olympic champion Eileen Gu successfully advanced to the finals of the freeski halfpipe at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Thursday. The 22-year-old, who is a Stanford University student originally from San Francisco and competes for China, demonstrated resilience after a fall in her first run. Gu clinched her spot in Saturday’s final with a strong performance in her second run, earning a score of 86.50 to place fifth.
“I was relieved,” Gu shared, reflecting on the intense pressure of the moment. “I just kind of had this moment of like, ‘Thank you.’ You know, I shouldn’t be in this position to begin with, but I’m glad that I was able to reinforce my sense of self-belief at the moment when it counted.” Gu has a remarkable track record, having won medals in all five of her previous Olympic events from these Games and the Beijing Olympics in 2022.
Zoe Atkin from Britain, the 2025 world champion, led the qualifiers with a score of 91.50, followed by Li Fanghui of China. Meanwhile, Cassie Sharpe, the 2018 gold medalist from Canada, suffered a hard fall and was taken off the course on a stretcher after qualifying in third place, casting uncertainty on her participation in the final.
Joining Gu in the finals is first-time Olympian Kate Gray from Mammoth Lakes, California. The 19-year-old secured her spot during her second run, marking a successful debut after winning a bronze medal at the Youth Olympic Games earlier this season in South Korea. Svea Irving from Winter Park, Colorado, also qualified for Team USA.
However, it was a disappointing outing for Team USA’s youngest participant, 15-year-old Abby Winterberger from Truckee. She finished ranked 15th among 21 competitors after her second run, narrowly missing the chance to advance to the final.
Gu’s journey continues to inspire, showcasing the spirit and resilience of Olympic athletes as they compete on one of the world’s largest stages. The excitement around the upcoming final remains high, with fans eager to see how these talented athletes perform.