Chinese freestyle skier Gu Ailing marked a triumphant return to international competition on February 17, 2026, securing silver in the women's big air final at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The 22-year-old defending champion, absent from major big air events since her gold medal win at Beijing 2022, scored 179.00 points in a fiercely contested final delayed by heavy snow and winds in Livigno Snow Park.
Gu narrowly missed gold by 1.75 points to Canada's Megan Oldham but expressed pride in her performance. "I was just trying to take it one step at a time," she said, reflecting on her first major big air contest in four years. The medal adds to her silver in slopestyle last week, strengthening China's Winter Games momentum.
The achievement coincided with the Lunar New Year's first day, a symbolic triumph for athletes and audiences alike. "Today is the Year of the Horse," Gu remarked. "I hope everyone finds success in everything they do this year."
Gu's comeback underscores her resilience amid evolving competition, with global fans celebrating her return as a highlight of this year's Games.
