Chinese freestyle skier Gu Ailing cemented her legacy as a winter sports icon by successfully defending her women's halfpipe gold medal at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Sunday. The 22-year-old phenom scored 94.75 points in her final run to secure China's fifth gold of the Games, repeating her historic triumph from Beijing 2022.
In a dramatic showdown, Gu overcame an initial setback where she failed to complete her first routine, scoring only 30.00 points. Her final electrifying performance edged out teammate Li Fanghui, who claimed silver with 93.00 points. Britain's Zoe Atkin took bronze with 92.50 in one of the closest podium margins in Olympic halfpipe history.
The event showcased China's skiing depth, with four athletes qualifying for the 11-skier final. While Liu Yishan and Zhang Kexin faced early challenges, Li Fanghui emerged as a surprise contender, leading the Chinese squad after the first round with 81.25 points before Gu's championship pedigree shone through.
