Eileen Gu has cemented her legacy as the most accomplished freestyle skier in Winter Olympics history after securing gold in the women’s halfpipe final at the Milan-Cortina Games. The Chinese-American athlete’s triumph on Sunday marked her sixth Olympic medal, breaking previous records held by Canada’s Mikael Kingsbury and Chinese teammate Xu Mengtao.
The 22-year-old Stanford student entered these Games seeking a complete medal sweep after her spectacular performance at Beijing 2022, where she captured two golds and one silver. While she earned silver in both slopestyle and big air events earlier in these Games, Gu saved her most exceptional performance for the halfpipe competition in Livigno’s brilliant sunshine.
Gu’s achievement is particularly remarkable given her calculated risk in competing across three disciplines—she hadn’t participated in big air competition for four years prior to these Games. At her post-event press conference, the emotional champion reflected: ‘I have done something that I took a big risk in trusting myself and I’m glad that I did. I walk away as the most decorated freeskier of all time, male or female.’
Beyond her athletic prowess, Gu represents a new generation of multi-dimensional athletes who transcend their sports. With 3 million Instagram followers and 14 million TikTok likes, her influence extends far beyond skiing. She ranked fourth on Forbes’ 2023 list of highest-earning female athletes, primarily through endorsement deals, and was featured in Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2022.
Immediately following her Olympic victory, Gu will transition to Milan Fashion Week, where she plans to explore her passion for fashion. ‘I’m really excited to just explore some other avenues, be creative, and explore my femininity through fashion,’ she explained, noting how she sees beauty in the juxtaposition between athletic excellence and creative expression.
Gu’s career has not been without controversy. Her 2019 decision to switch allegiance from the United States to China, her mother’s homeland, generated divided opinions. The athlete has spoken openly about feeling the weight of representing two nations, but believes her platform has helped inspire millions of Chinese children to engage with winter sports.
Looking forward, Gu aims to leverage her unique position for global benefit, combining her athletic, academic, and fashion pursuits to create positive impact while her physical capabilities remain at their peak.