LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Eileen Gu’s Olympic story took a wild turn during the slopestyle qualifier. Skiing backwards out of the starting gate, she hit a rail, spun 270 degrees, and then—bam—she fell.
It was a tense moment. Just moments later, she faced the pressure of a second run, telling herself, “This is it.”
Gu, a star in the Winter Games, seemed on the verge of elimination in her very first event. She summed up her feelings post-fall: “I went through the five stages of grief: confusion, despair, and finally, a flow state.” This mental shift was key for her.
On her first attempt, Gu landed awkwardly off a rail and received a score of just 1.26 out of 100. Confusion echoed at the bottom of the hill. Her mother, Yan, offered snacks and encouragement as Gu mentally prepared for a second chance.
“I dug deep,” Gu shared. “I reminded myself how hard I’ve worked. I’m obsessed with skiing.” That self-talk transformed her nerves into confidence. “If there’s anyone to bet on, it’s me,” she said with conviction.
Her second run was impressive. With a score of 75.30, she secured her spot as one of the top competitors, trailing only Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland.
Gu faced an especially tricky rail section, tougher than typical World Cup courses. The first rail was larger than usual, and the spacing between rails was tighter. She had never tried the trick she fell on during a contest before. Yet, on her second run, she landed it flawlessly, spinning in every direction.
This unique skill might just give her an edge in the finals. Watching footage from her first run, Gu observed a hint of uncertainty in her technique. “I looked fragile,” she noted. “I needed to remind myself to get it together.”
In the men’s qualifiers, Alex Hall secured a spot to defend his Olympic title by finishing eighth, joining two fellow Americans, Konnor Ralph and Mac Forehand. Forehand also faced pressure, falling on his first run but bouncing back to land in sixth. “I’ve never been so nervous,” he admitted, illustrating the intensity athletes experience.
This event underscored the evolving nature of competitive skiing. As techniques advance and jumps become riskier, the stakes rise exponentially. Each performance not only reflects personal skill but also the mental fortitude required to excel under pressure.
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