Eileen Gu, the standout skier, voiced her concerns after qualifying for the Winter Olympics big air final. She was frustrated that the organizers wouldn’t adjust the schedule to let her train more for the halfpipe, where she also competes.
Gu has already won a silver medal in slopestyle and is the only female freeskier entered in all three disciplines: slopestyle, halfpipe, and big air. However, the timing of the big air final clashes with the first of three halfpipe training sessions.
At just 22 years old, Gu is a massive name at the Milan Cortina Games. She reached out to the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) about the schedule but was told that changing it for one athlete wouldn’t be fair to others.
“I’m disappointed in FIS,” Gu said. “The Olympics should celebrate extraordinary achievements, not punish them.”
A FIS spokesperson stated that while they try to provide the best training opportunities, conflicts can arise for athletes competing in multiple events. This isn’t unique to Gu; earlier in the Olympics, Ester Ledecka faced a similar dilemma between defending her snowboard title and competing in skiing events.
Eileen Gu, born in the U.S. but representing China, hasn’t skied on a halfpipe since last December. She last competed in big air four years ago in Beijing, where she won gold. While big air and slopestyle share similarities, Gu emphasizes that halfpipe requires a different set of skills and presents more risks. “Halfpipe is an entirely different event,” she noted, comparing it to the difference between sprinting and marathon running.
In the previous Olympics, Gu managed her schedule tightly, eating quickly between events to prepare for her next competition. She just barely made it into the finals last week, needing a last-ditch effort on her final jump. “Even though I haven’t done it in four years, I still know how to ski,” she said confidently.
Looking ahead, Gu faces a rapid-fire schedule. After the big air final on Monday, the halfpipe qualifiers are just two days later, with the finals on Saturday. She feels the tight timeline unfairly punishes those, like her, who excel in multiple events. “This makes it really difficult to train properly for the third event,” she explained.
Athletes often juggle intense schedules, but Gu’s situation raises questions about how events are organized for those competing in multiple disciplines. Her case reflects a broader trend in sports, where scheduling can impact athletes’ performances and, ultimately, their chances for medals.
As the Games progress, many fans are closely watching how Gu navigates these challenges. Her story is more than just about skiing; it highlights the broader issues of fairness and opportunity in competitive sports.
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Olympics,Sports,skiing,Winter Olympics 2026
