Eileen Gu Wins Gold in Freeski Halfpipe

Eileen Gu, who had already gained two Olympic medals on the Beijing Video games, took the gold Friday in freeski halfpipe.

Gu, the 18-year-old Californian who is competing for China, believes that the halfpipe is one of the best of her three occasions. She had already gained gold in large air and narrowly missed one other in slopestyle, finishing with silver. One other win within the halfpipe accomplished the aim she set for the Winter Olympics: to win three medals for China.

On Friday, with a big crowd of Chinese language followers cheering her each trick, she simply scored a 93.25 to take the lead on her first run, pumping her arm within the air when the rating was introduced. Gu bettered her rating on the second run, with a 95.25.

Canada got here in robust after Gu, with Cassie Sharpe taking silver and Rachael Karker bronze.

Gu’s competitors included her high rival, Kelly Sildaru of Estonia, the one different lady who competed in all three occasions (large air, slopestyle, halfpipe). Sildaru completed fourth.

The US had a robust contingent, led by the 17-year-old Hanna Faulhaber, who was fourth on the world championships final 12 months, and Brita Sigourney, 32, who gained Olympic bronze 4 years in the past. However each struggled throughout the occasion. Faulhaber was the highest American, at sixth.

Gu has attracted worldwide consideration — and a few debate — for her determination in 2019 to characterize her mom’s homeland.

The choice was barely famous when she was 15 and the Beijing Olympics have been almost three years away. Now Gu dominates her sport and finds herself straddling a rising geopolitical rift between her two nations.

Yan Gu, Eileen’s mom, was born in Shanghai and raised in Beijing, the daughter of a authorities engineer. She emigrated to the USA about 30 years in the past for postgraduate research and settled in San Francisco.

Eileen Gu, raised in San Francisco, has change into a mannequin, representing luxurious manufacturers like Louis Vuitton and Tiffany. She has so many sponsorships in China that she is a ubiquitous presence in ads and receives glowing protection from the state information media.

Gu has mentioned that she desires to be a bridge between the USA and China whereas inspiring younger ladies and serving to China’s nascent winter-sports trade to develop. She and her mom have declined to debate any of the thorny geopolitical points that contain the rival nations.