The sun-drenched slopes of Livigno Snow Park set the stage for an electrifying finale to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where Eileen Gu, the 22-year-old skiing sensation, soared to an unprecedented sixth Olympic medal and cemented her status as the most decorated freestyle skier in Winter Games history. On February 22, 2026, with fans waving flags and anticipation at fever pitch, Gu delivered a dazzling performance in the women's freeski halfpipe final, defending her Olympic title in style and adding another golden chapter to her already storied career.
Gu's journey to the top of the podium wasn't without its hurdles. Her first run was marred by a landing error on her initial 900-degree spin, causing her to lose speed and momentum. The scoreboard flashed a disappointing 30.00, and for a fleeting moment, the crowd wondered if the defending champion's nerves might get the best of her. But if there's one thing Eileen Gu has proven time and again, it's her ability to perform under pressure. "Every day I was fighting," Gu later reflected. "I gave my all every single day that I've been here, and that's no joke."
With the world watching and her sizeable group of Chinese supporters cheering her on, Gu returned to the halfpipe for her second run. This time, she landed back-to-back 900s cleanly, executed flawless flips and spins, and showcased the technical brilliance that has made her a household name. The judges were duly impressed, awarding her a 94.00—vaulting her to the top of the standings and sending a clear message to her rivals.
But Gu wasn't done yet. On her third and final run, she raised the bar even higher. Pumping her ski poles after landing her final trick, she posted a sensational 94.75, sealing victory and putting herself out of reach. As she shielded her eyes from the dazzling alpine sun to catch a glimpse of her score, the realization set in: not only had she defended her Olympic gold, but she had also made history. "I'm so tired but I'm so happy," Gu said, her voice brimming with emotion. "I feel like I've been giving 110 percent of myself every single day. It's like a marathon distance but a sprint pace because I can't slack any day."
Gu's gold medal in the halfpipe wasn't her only success at these Games. She had already claimed two silvers in slopestyle and big air—making her the only woman to compete in all three freeski events at both the Milan-Cortina and Beijing Olympics. With three golds and three silvers, Gu now stands alone atop the Olympic freeski medal table, surpassing legends like Canada's Mikael Kingsbury and China's Xu Mengtao. "I'm the most decorated freeskier of all time, male or female," Gu declared. "I have the most gold medals ever, male or female. That's a testament to competitive strength, it's mental strength. It's being able to perform under pressure, it has nothing to do with if you're a boy or a girl."
The path to gold was made even more challenging by the weather. Originally scheduled for Saturday, the women's final was postponed due to heavy snowfall in the Italian Alps. When the contest finally got underway on Sunday, the conditions were perfect—bright, sunny skies illuminating the halfpipe and the athletes' dazzling skills. Gu soared as high as four meters above the 7.2-meter pipe, drawing gasps from the crowd and admiration from her peers.
China's Li Fanghui rose to the occasion as well, nailing her third run with a score of 93.00 to secure the silver medal. It was a 1-2 finish for China, marking a historic moment for the nation's Winter Olympics program. After the event, China's medal tally at Milan-Cortina stood at five golds, four silvers, and six bronzes—its best result ever at an overseas Winter Games, surpassing the previous record set in Vancouver 2010. Teammates Zhang Kexin and Liu Yishan also put in strong performances, placing sixth and ninth, respectively.
Great Britain's Zoe Atkin, the defending world champion and a steady World Cup podium presence, soared as high as 5.4 meters (18 feet) above the pipe and claimed the bronze with a score of 92.50. Atkin, American-born but competing for her father's homeland, had set the pace in qualifying and led after the first run with a smooth 90.50. Her bronze comes eight years after her sister Izzy won slopestyle bronze at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, adding another chapter to the Atkin family's Olympic legacy. "(Gu) is a really great competitor. She's a really amazing skier," Atkin said. "We have an amazing group of skiers as well. I think the level is truly unmatched, and I think that's really special. I think that makes it really exciting to watch for the next coming years."
New Zealand's Mischa Thomas, who finished outside the medals, summed up the sentiment felt by many in Livigno: "She is unreal. It's pretty crazy how good she is. She is 'Wonder Woman.'" Even as the competition unfolded, there were lighter moments—Thomas dropped her phone into the halfpipe during her second run, and after it was retrieved, she quipped, "My phone is great. Never been better."
The field was not without its setbacks. Canadian Cassie Sharpe, the 2018 Olympic gold medalist and 2022 silver medalist, was ruled out of the final after a heavy crash in qualifying resulted in a concussion. American competitors Kate Gray and Svea Irving advanced to the finals, but neither managed to break into the top ranks. Irving, after a rough first run and a DNS (did not start) in her second, struggled in her third and finished 11th. Australia's 16-year-old prodigy Indra Brown impressed with an 87.00 in her final run, good enough for fifth place.
At the victory ceremony, Gu donned a shiny gold bow on her high ponytail to match her new hardware. She revealed she'd been skiing with the bow in her pocket throughout the Games, a lucky charm for her moment of triumph. She blew kisses to the large contingent of Chinese fans, who had cheered her every move and waved flags bearing her likeness. "Being able to lead the way and pioneer the sport is something I never imagined I'd be able to do," Gu said. "But I'm really honored and proud that I have."
As the curtain falls on the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Eileen Gu's golden performance in Livigno stands as a testament to her relentless drive, technical mastery, and indomitable spirit. With six medals in as many Olympic events, she has redefined what it means to be a champion—and left the world eagerly awaiting what she'll do next.