Chinese freestyle skiing sensation Gu Ailing showcased her Olympic pedigree on December 12, securing top qualification honors at the FIS Freeski World Cup's Chongli leg. The 2022 double gold medalist delivered a masterclass at Zhangjiakou's Secret Garden Resort – the same venue where she made history during the Beijing Winter Olympics.
In a strong showing for host nation China, three athletes advanced to Saturday's final through fierce competition among 26 international skiers. Gu's second-run performance proved decisive, as she upgraded her initial 86.50 score to a day-leading 92.75 through amplified airs and technical complexity that left judges impressed.
Fellow Chinese competitor Li Fanghui initially stunned spectators with an 88.25 first-run lead before settling into third position overall. Zhang Kexin maintained consistent form to secure fifth place, ensuring three red-suited athletes will contest the medal round.
The qualification format, counting each skier's best score from two attempts, saw China's Zhou Siyu and Liu Yishan narrowly miss finals contention at 15th and 11th positions respectively. All eyes now turn to Saturday's final where Gu aims to convert her top seeding into another podium finish.
