Eileen Gu Loses Big Air Title in Olympic Heartbreaker
Eileen Gu, the prominent American-born freestyle skier who now represents China, faced a challenging competition in the Olympic women’s freeski big air event. On February 16, 2026, she aimed to defend her previous gold medal but ultimately settled for silver in a thrilling conclusion.
Eileen Gu’s Performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Gu began her first run with a score of 90.0. This score positioned her in a competitive spot, tying for third place behind Megan Oldham from Canada and Austria’s Lara Wolf. Unfortunately, her second run did not go as planned. Gu scored 61.25, which temporarily placed her outside of medal contention.
Final Attempts and Results
The competition format allowed each skier three runs, with only the two highest scores contributing to their final tally. Gu needed a solid performance in her final attempt to secure a medal. In her third run, she managed to score 89.00, which combined with her earlier score gave her a total of 179.0. This impressive performance temporarily held her in second place.
Despite her strong showing, Gu had to wait as six competitors took their final runs. Oldham led until the end of the rounds. While England’s Kirsty Muir had an opportunity to surpass Gu, she fell during her landing, solidifying Oldham’s gold medal win, which earned her a combined score of 180.75. Italy’s Flora Tabanelli claimed the bronze medal.
Challenges and Olympic Journey
The finals were delayed by over an hour due to severe weather conditions, which included heavy snowfall. Earlier in the Olympics, Gu had already secured a silver medal in slopestyle. She was also a gold medalist in the same event during the 2022 Winter Olympics.
In the lead-up to these games, Gu had been vocal about the challenges of juggling multiple events. On the day of the big air final, she was practicing for the halfpipe competition in between her runs.
Eileen Gu’s Background and Success
Gu, whose parents are American and Chinese, made headlines when she switched her allegiance from the U.S. to China in 2019, ahead of the Beijing Olympics. In 2022, she triumphed by winning gold in both the women’s freeski big air and the halfpipe, along with a silver in slopestyle.
Her success has led to significant financial rewards, reportedly earning $6.6 million from the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau. Moreover, she has secured numerous endorsement deals, positioning her as one of the highest-paid athletes competing at the Olympics.
Conclusion
Eileen Gu’s performance in the Olympic women’s freeski big air event exemplified both her skill and determination. Despite an intense competition and adverse conditions, she showcased her talent, securing a silver medal in a heart-stopping finale.
