Chinese freestyle skier Gu Ailing cemented her legacy as the most decorated athlete in her sport's history at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, securing one gold and two silver medals to bring her total Olympic haul to six. The 22-year-old, who first rose to global prominence with two golds and a silver at the 2022 Beijing Games, used her latest victory press conference to advocate for a surprising theme: embracing vulnerability.
Responding to questions from CGTN Sports Scene's Zhu Mandan after defending her women's halfpipe title, Gu emphasized: "The whole point of this is that if I can do it, then everyone else should try it too. If I can do it, so can you." Her remarks came despite a dominant performance that saw her outscore rivals by nearly 15 points in the final.
The three-time gold medalist revealed her journey since 2022 involved overcoming severe injuries and mental health challenges. "Everything I have, I've fought tooth and nail to get," she stated, while cautioning against perceptions of effortless success. "What's important is learning to show [struggles] to the world in a way that's beneficial."
Gu's advocacy for authenticity resonates beyond sports, offering insights for business leaders and educators alike. As Asian markets increasingly prioritize workplace mental health initiatives, her message underscores the growing regional focus on holistic success metrics.
