Gu Secures Silver After Strong Final Run
Eileen Gu’s second appearance at the Winter Olympics has not been as dominant as her debut, but judging by her reaction after securing silver in the women’s big air event, she left the venue far from disappointed.
Facing a deeper and more competitive field than at the Beijing Games four years ago, Gu — who was born in the United States and now represents China — was unable to defend her Olympic gold medal in the discipline. She delivered two strong runs but ultimately finished behind Canada’s Megan Oldham, who claimed gold. Italy’s Flora Tabanelli took bronze.
Gu impressed in her opening run, earning a score of 90.00 for a double cork 1440. However, a less polished second attempt left her in a difficult position heading into the final round.
In the big air competition, athletes are given three attempts, with their two highest scores combined to determine the final standings.
Needing a strong finish, Gu delivered on her final run with a flawlessly executed left-side double cork 1260. She celebrated as her score of 89.00 was posted, securing second place behind Oldham.
The silver medal marked Gu’s second podium finish of the Games, adding to the silver she earned in slopestyle. She has one more opportunity to add to her medal tally in the halfpipe event, where she is the reigning Olympic champion. After the Games, Gu is expected to return to Stanford University as a junior.
The big air final was delayed by 75 minutes due to heavy snowfall and wind gusts of up to 18 miles per hour, conditions deemed unsafe for an event in which athletes descend a 15-story ramp before launching into the air to perform complex aerial tricks.
Although conditions improved slightly, snowfall continued during the competition. Despite the challenging weather, athletes attempted high-difficulty tricks. Among them was Muir’s left-side double cork 1620 — which includes four-and-a-half rotations combined with two off-axis flips and a grab — earning a score of 93.0 and putting her in contention for gold heading into her final run.
The same trick famously secured Gu’s gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics on her final attempt. Muir sought to replicate that dramatic moment but was unable to land the maneuver in her last run.
Both Swiss skiers, Anouk Andraska and Mathilde Gremaud, withdrew from the final after sustaining injuries during Monday’s training session.
Gremaud, who narrowly defeated Gu to win slopestyle gold earlier in the week, injured her hip, according to a statement from Swiss Ski. It remains unclear whether she will be fit to compete in the halfpipe later this week.
Source : https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/winter-olympics-2026-eileen-gu-takes-silver-medal-in-womens-freestyle-ski-big-air-205001078.html
