LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — The trick known as “disaster” proved to be anything but for freeskiing star Eileen Gu.
Gu landed this tricky move early on the Olympic slopestyle course, kicking off her Milan-Cortina journey with a silver medal. Although she struggled to land it on her next two attempts, her initial success showcased her talent amidst fierce competition.
The gold medal went to Switzerland’s Mathilde Gremaud, who wowed the audience, making it one of the best women’s slopestyle contests ever. She expressed pride in her performance, saying it was her best run to date. Meanwhile, Canada’s Megan Oldham secured bronze with impressive back-to-back jumps, rotating 1260 degrees—a rare feat in the sport.
Interestingly, their approaches to the competition highlighted their distinct styles. Just weeks before the Olympics, Gu focused on perfecting her rails technique, opting for a longer rail that no other finalist chose. Coach Ryan Wyble noted that while the trick can end in disaster, landing it successfully speaks to Gu’s strength and skill.
The judges rewarded Gu with the top scores for her jumps, reflecting the quality of her execution. However, Gremaud’s focus on the high-flying jumps at the course’s end paid off remarkably. During her winning run, she executed a complex maneuver that she hadn’t attempted in competitions before.
Despite not landing her second and third runs, Gu remained upbeat. After her last fall, she turned to the camera with a smile, embodying a spirit of sportsmanship. In a light-hearted exchange, Gremaud acknowledged her own success while showing empathy for Gu’s performance.
More than the medals, the day highlighted the growth of women’s skiing. Gu articulated this well when she expressed pride in her effort, saying, “You’re watching women’s skiing evolve in real time, and how special is that?”
This moment speaks to a larger trend in sports. Recent studies show that women’s participation in action sports has increased significantly, with athletes like Gu and Gremaud at the forefront. Their achievements inspire young skiers everywhere, transforming the landscape of winter sports.
As the excitement continues at the Olympics, the evolving narrative of women in skiing captures the attention of fans across social media, affirming that this sport is on the rise. Every twist and turn offers a glimpse into a thrilling future for women’s skiing.
For more Olympic news, visit the AP Winter Olympics page.
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