Italy’s snow-covered slopes produced a defining moment in freestyle skiing on February 16, 2026, when Eileen Gu clinched the silver medal in the women’s big air event at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. With this medal, she reached a milestone that no other woman in her sport has ever reached — five Olympic medals, setting a new standard for excellence in freestyle skiing.
Gu conquered one of the world’s most challenging freestyle events under dramatic conditions. Heavy snowfall delayed the competition, forcing athletes to wait for the snowstorm to clear before they could take their runs. Despite the unpredictable weather, she stood strong and delivered two technically impressive jumps that earned her the silver medal.
She crossed the finish line just behind Megan Oldham of Canada, who earned the gold with a combined score that edged Gu by a small margin. Italy’s Flora Tabanelli completed the podium with bronze, marking a memorable day for the host nation.
What makes Gu’s performance even more remarkable is that she hadn’t competed in a big air event since the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Four years earlier, she captured that inaugural big air title and added a halfpipe gold and a slopestyle silver, showcasing her versatility across multiple disciplines.
The Path to Five Olympic Medals
Gu’s Olympic journey began in 2022, when she stormed onto the world stage as the youngest Olympic champion in freestyle skiing history. At just 18 years old, she dominated the events in Beijing, earning gold in big air, gold in halfpipe, and silver in slopestyle — the first time a freestyle skier had won three medals at a single Olympic Games.
Her success in 2022 immediately elevated her to global prominence. Analysts praised her fearlessness and technical skill, noting her ability to master difficult tricks like the double cork 1440 and double cork 1620, moves few athletes had landed before.
Fast forward to 2026, and Gu returned to the Olympic spotlight with even loftier goals. Her silver in slopestyle earlier in the Games had already signaled her elite form. Despite injury setbacks and limited competition in big air leading up to the Olympics, she pushed through with determination, showing mental toughness that can only come from years of training and unwavering focus.
After her big air silver, she became the most decorated woman in freestyle skiing Olympic history, tied with Canadian moguls specialist Mikaël Kingsbury for most total Olympic freestyle medals among all athletes. Though Kingsbury figures just ahead overall, Gu still had the season’s halfpipe event ahead of her — another chance to surpass him and further cement her legacy.
Staying Focused in the Face of Challenges
Gu’s road to this historic achievement wasn’t smooth. Before the big air final, she suffered a crash during training that resulted in a head injury and forced her to break and replace her helmet. Rather than letting that shake her confidence, she used the delay caused by the snowstorm to rest and mentally prepare for her runs.
Her calmness under pressure impressed commentators and fans alike. One sport analyst remarked that Gu’s performance showed her ability to block out distractions and focus entirely on the task at hand — an essential quality for success on the world’s biggest stage.
While some critics question athletes who compete with dual identities — Gu was born in the United States yet competes for China — she remains tightly focused on her skiing. She emphasizes pride in representing China and aims to inspire a new generation of winter athletes, especially in nations where skiing has grown only recently in popularity.
Impact Beyond the Medals
Gu’s historic achievement carries significance beyond the medal count. Her presence in international competitions draws attention to freestyle skiing, especially among young women. Sponsors and media outlets have recognized her as one of the most marketable athletes in winter sports, and her influence extends into fashion, academics, and social media.
Balancing elite competition with academic pursuits, Gu also attends Stanford University, where she studies while maintaining one of the most demanding training schedules in the sport. That blend of intellectual curiosity and athletic perfection resonates with fans worldwide.
Her record five Olympic medals also serve as a milestone for freestyle skiing as a whole, a sport that continues to grow in both global reach and technical difficulty. Younger athletes now see that mastery in big air, halfpipe, and slopestyle can be achieved together, not just separately.
What Comes Next
With the halfpipe event still to come at the Milano-Cortina Games, Gu has one more chance to add to her medal haul. That event has become one of her strongest over the years, and many insiders believe she still holds the potential to win gold once again.
Fans and commentators alike are already talking about the legacy she is building — not just for China, but for women’s freestyle skiing worldwide. Even if she doesn’t win another medal in Italy, her five-medal achievement will stand as a testament to her skill, perseverance, and impact on the sport.
As Gu refocuses on halfpipe training over the coming days, she carries with her the confidence of a record-setting athlete. Every jump places her name deeper into skiing history, and every trick inspires upcoming generations of skiers who hope to follow in her tracks.
