Freestyle skiing sensation Eileen Gu has secured her second silver medal at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, achieving the feat in the Slopestyle event. This follows her earlier silver in the Big Air competition, placing her two medals short of her ambitious pre-Games goal of three gold medals. Despite not achieving gold in these two events, the 22-year-old phenom expressed no outward disappointment, instead candidly acknowledging the immense pressure she faces from supporters in both China and the United States.
Gu, who holds dual citizenship with China and the US, had previously outlined her aim for a golden hat-trick at this Olympiad. However, after the completion of two contested disciplines, she has collected two silver medals. The gold medal in the Slopestyle event was ultimately clinched by Canadian athlete Megan Oldham.
These two recent silver medals further solidify Gu’s standing as one of the most compelling and successful freestyle skiers in the history of the sport. Her remarkable Olympic career now encompasses an impressive five medals across two Games, including two golds and a bronze from her dominant performance at the Beijing 2022 Olympics. She still retains one final opportunity to compete for a gold medal at Milano-Cortina 2026, as she is set to participate in the highly anticipated Halfpipe event.
A significant factor contributing to the 22-year-old’s performance in Italy, which some observers might consider slightly less dominant compared to her historic showing at the previous Games, appears to be the distinctly different atmosphere surrounding fan support. Gu specifically noted a contrast between the overwhelming home crowd enthusiasm she experienced in China during the 2022 Games and the current climate in Italy, where she feels the intense weight of expectations from American supporters. She recently articulated her unique and challenging position, stating that for the 2026 Olympics, she feels as though she is simultaneously representing both China and the United States.
Reflecting on the mental demands of her situation, Gu shared her thoughts with reporters: “I can say that such a situation of pressure can make you feel distracted, making it incredibly difficult to focus your attention. When I entered the competition, I truly felt like I was representing millions of people, and that is certainly no laughing matter. But nonetheless, I think it has been a very special experience. Even with such intense pressure, this entire journey has also helped push me to what I consider a peak level of competition.”
The Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy are currently underway, having commenced on February 7th and scheduled to conclude on February 22nd. While the Games continue, China’s overall medal count has been relatively modest thus far. As of the latest standings, China holds the 12th position on the medal table with a total of 10 medals, comprising 3 gold, 3 silver, and 4 bronze. Eileen Gu’s two silver medals contribute directly to this tally.
In the broader medal standings, Norway presently leads all nations with an impressive 34 medals, including 16 gold, 8 silver, and 10 bronze. The United States follows in second place with a total of 27 medals, consisting of 9 gold, 12 silver, and 6 bronze. Host nation Italy currently occupies the third position with a provisional total of 26 medals, breaking down into 9 gold, 5 silver, and 12 bronze.
