Feb 22, 2026
3 min read
Gu has won three gold medals during her Olympic career, adding to the two she won in Beijing.With a total of six medals, she is the most successful female athlete in Winter Olympics history.
2026 Winter Olympics: Eileen Gu honors loss of grandmother with second straight gold in women's freestyle halfpipe
Eileen Gu, the American-born freeskier representing China, won her second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the women's downhill.After leaning out in the first run, Gu bounced back with a 94.00 in the second run and a 94.75 in the third run.
After the competition, Gu learned that his grandmother had passed away and both were good enough to win gold medals.
China took the top two spots on the podium, with Gu's teammate Li Fanghui third with a silver 93.00.
Britain's Zoe Atkin, Gu's classmate at Stanford, was on top after the first run, but despite achieving the highest amplitude of her jumps among the competitors in the field, was unable to recover from a missed landing in the second run.She won bronze.
Atkin scored 92.50 points in her third run, finishing behind Gu and Fanhui after qualifying first.
THE GOLDEN RUN GU.🥇
Eileen Gu, Halfpipe GOLD on February 22, 2026.
The 22-year-old has won six medals at two Winter Olympics, making him the most accomplished freestyle skier in Olympic history.
"Advancing the track and advancing in the sport is something I never imagined I could do," Gu said after the halfpipe final."But I'm really happy and proud to have it."
A tearful Gu learns that her grandmother has passed away after the competition
After learning that her grandmother had died after the competition, Gu went to the podium at the press conference in tears.Gu explained that her grandmother was a big inspiration in her life and that on the way to the Games she knew she was sick.
"I just found out my grandmother died," Goo said."She was a very big part of my life growing up and someone I looked up to a lot. She was a fighter. I think it's interesting that a lot of people just go through life, but she was a steamboat.
"This woman rules life, and she controls it and makes it the way she wants it to be. And she inspires me a lot."
"He was a huge part of me growing up and I look up to him."❤️
Eileen Gu discusses her grandmother's death as she wins her second Olympic halfpipe gold medal.pic.twitter.com/jCtD22kkgr — Yahoo (@YahooSports) February 22, 2026
Gu medal draw in Milan Cortina
In Milan Cortina, Gu added his gold in halfpipe to his silver medal in slopestyle and high air.He was the only freestyle skier to compete in all three events, let alone win medals in each.At the 2022 Beijing Games, Gu won gold in halfpipe and high air and silver in slopestyle.
"The reason I like a lot of records is because it's not about men or women," Gu added."I'm the most decorated freeskier of all time, male or female. I have the most gold medals of all time, male or female. That's a testament to competitive strength, that's mental strength. You're able to perform under pressure."
Starting his Olympic career at such a young age, Gu looks set to reach the 2030 Olympics four years from now, winning an impressive medal at the Winter Games in the French Alps.
Gu has also become a controversial figure for his choice to represent China.which is his mother's hometownEven though he was born in San Francisco.Being a successful athlete and photo star in both countries has earned him millions of dollars, or $23.1 million in 2025.
Kate Gray (66.50) and Swea Irving (22.50) of the USA team finished 10th and 11th, respectively.Irving landed hard on her right hip in her first run and did not finish third.
Sunday's event was postponed from Saturday due to heavy snow that made the halfpipe track unsafe for competition.
