Chinese freestyle skiing sensation Eileen Gu achieved a remarkable feat at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, securing a coveted gold medal in the Freestyle Halfpipe event. However, her triumph was quickly followed by heartbreaking personal news: the passing of her beloved grandmother.
Gu’s victory in the Halfpipe discipline marked a significant milestone, as she successfully claimed her third Olympic gold medal across two Winter Games appearances in 2022 and 2026. This gold medal was particularly poignant as it represented her final event and ultimate hope for a top podium finish at the 2026 Games, complementing her previously earned silver medals in the Big Air and Slopestyle events. In the fiercely contested Halfpipe final on February 22, the 22-year-old athlete delivered an outstanding performance, earning the highest score of 94.75 with her impressive rotational tricks. She outmaneuvered her Chinese national teammate, Li Fanghui, who scored 93.00, and Great Britain’s Freestyle Skiing World Champion, Zoe Atkin, who took home the bronze with a score of 92.50.
Immediately after securing her victory, Gu celebrated with her ecstatic fans, expressing the culmination of her dedicated efforts and unwavering resolve before proceeding to the medal ceremony. Yet, the joy of her athletic achievement was soon overshadowed. In a subsequent interview with reporters, the American-Chinese athlete revealed the profoundly saddening news that she had just learned of her grandmother’s death.
Explaining her delayed arrival to the interview, Gu emotionally shared, ‘The reason I am late for this interview is that I just received news that my grandmother has passed away. She played an immense role in my life, from my childhood as I grew up, always caring for me and encouraging me every step of the way. The last time I saw her before traveling for these Olympics, she was already very ill.’ This heartfelt statement underscored the profound personal loss experienced by the champion athlete.
This recent victory further solidifies Eileen Gu’s impressive Olympic career, bringing her total medal count to six. Since her debut in 2022 and through the 2026 Winter Games, the talented American-Chinese skier has accumulated a remarkable three gold and three silver medals, cementing her status as one of the most decorated athletes in her sport.
