Defending champion Gu Ailing of China secured her place in the women's freestyle skiing big air final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on February 15, alongside compatriot Liu Mengting. Gu, 22, showcased resilience during the qualifiers, recovering from a second-run fall to land a critical third attempt with 84.75 points. Her combined score of 170.75 placed her second overall.
Liu Mengting qualified ninth with 160.00 points, while teammate Yang Ruyi narrowly missed the top 12 cutoff. Canada's Megan Oldham led the standings with 171.75 points, setting up a highly anticipated final showdown.
Gu's performance highlighted her technical versatility, executing complex maneuvers like the rightward takeoff double cork 1440 and leftward takeoff double cork 1080. The final, scheduled for February 17, will determine if she can reclaim gold in one of winter sports' most visually spectacular events.
