Chinese veteran freeskier Xu Mengtao cemented her legendary status by winning the women's aerials final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Wednesday, securing China's second gold medal in her historic fifth Olympic appearance.
Four Chinese athletes dominated the final round, with Xu joined by teammates Shao Qi, Kong Fanyu, and Chen Meiting. The intense competition saw only six of twelve finalists advance to the super final, where Xu delivered a masterclass performance. Her second jump scored 112.90 points – more than 10 points clear of silver medalist Danielle Scott of Australia.
The 35-year-old defending champion demonstrated exceptional consistency, topping both the preliminary round (107.75 points) and super final. Shao Qi claimed bronze with 101.90 points, while Kong Fanyu narrowly missed the podium in fourth place.
This victory extends China's strong start at the Winter Games and reinforces Xu's position as one of freestyle skiing's most enduring champions. Her fifth Olympic campaign continues to inspire both veteran athletes and China's new generation of winter sports talent.
