Eileen Gu, a prominent figure in freeskiing, faced off against Mathilde Gremaud at the Olympic slopestyle event and finished second. This competition took place in Livigno, Italy, where the trick known as "disaster" proved to be more of an opportunity for Gu than a setback.
Gu successfully executed this challenging maneuver once during her initial run on the expansive rail section of the Olympic course, marking the beginning of her Milan-Cortina journey—an event that could involve up to 15 risky descents over a span of 15 days. However, despite her strong start, she struggled to land the trick on her subsequent attempts, which ultimately hindered her chances of claiming gold.
For the second consecutive occasion, the gold medal went to Switzerland's Mathilde Gremaud. This event was quickly celebrated as one of the most thrilling women’s slopestyle competitions in the history of the sport. "That was definitely the best slopestyle run I’ve ever done," Gu remarked after her performance, while Gremaud echoed those sentiments, stating, "I would say it’s the best one I’ve ever done in my life, yes."
Megan Oldham from Canada also made headlines by executing impressive back-to-back jumps with 1260 degrees of rotation, securing a bronze medal. The tight competition between Gu and Gremaud was evident, with just a mere 0.38 points separating their scores—a margin strikingly similar to their finish at the Beijing Games four years prior.
Despite their close standings, Gu and Gremaud showcased contrasting strategies throughout the event. About two weeks before the competition, Gu dedicated time to refining her technique on the rails section—this technical area at the top of the slope offered various options. Notably, she was the sole skier among the 12 finalists to select the longer rail on the right.
The "disaster" trick involves skiing backward, leaping over part of the rail while twisting to the right—an awkward motion for many. As U.S. coach Ryan Wyble explained, it’s called a "disaster" because of its potential for catastrophic failure. When executed successfully, however, it can lead to remarkable achievements, as Gu discovered when she landed it on her first attempt, particularly significant given her struggles during training and a fall earlier in the competition.
"To be able to put it down when it counts, to peak at the right time, I really think it’s important and a testament to my mental strength," Gu shared. Her execution impressed the judges, who awarded her a score of 9.2 for the jump and a total of 25.95 for the entire rails portion—the highest of the day.
The latter part of the slopestyle course, featuring three aerial jumps, is often the highlight of the event, drawing gasps from the audience. Gremaud had clearly prioritized this aspect in her preparation, leading to her standout winning run. For her performance, Gremaud, a seasoned athlete with a world championship title and two Olympic golds under her belt, performed a series of impressive maneuvers including skiing backward, executing two flips while spinning, and landing flawlessly—a feat she had never accomplished in competition before. She followed this with two back-to-back 1260s, impressing the crowd with her skill.
Gu, unfortunately, was unable to replicate her success with the "disaster" trick in her second or third runs. After her final fall, she showed visible frustration by jabbing her poles into the ground, but moments later, she was seen smiling for the cameras, demonstrating her resilience. Gremaud took this moment to enjoy her victory lap, gliding down the slope with her national flag proudly displayed.
During a press conference for medalists, Gremaud expressed empathy towards Gu, saying, "I was not happy for you that you didn’t land the third run, but I was happy for myself that I didn’t have to go and, like, send it again for the third run." Gu laughed in response, recognizing the camaraderie and competitive spirit of the event. Both athletes agreed that beyond individual victories, the true winner of the day was the advancement of women’s skiing.
Gu concluded, "Did I want to land a second and third run? Yes. Did I have plans to do bigger and better tricks? Yes. But can I be at all disappointed or feel in any way except for immensely proud? No. The first run I landed was the run I came here to do. I’m proud of my skiing. You are literally watching women’s skiing evolve in real time, and how special is that?"
This report includes contributions from AP writer Joseph Wilson in Livigno.
