Eileen Gu Secures Olympic Slopestyle Silver, Faces Halfpipe Training Conflict

Eileen Gu Secures Silver in Slopestyle Amidst Training Schedule Conflict at 2026 Winter Olympics

Eileen Gu, representing China, earned a silver medal in the women's freeski slopestyle event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy. Her performance followed a qualifying round where she recovered from an initial fall. Gu is also entered in the halfpipe and big air events. However, a significant scheduling conflict has emerged: the big air final overlaps with one of her allocated halfpipe training sessions, leading to Gu missing valuable practice time. Organizers from the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) declined her request for alternative training, citing the complexity of the Olympic program and the precedent such changes could establish.

A scheduling conflict between the big air final and a halfpipe training session has resulted in Gu missing one of her allocated practice opportunities.

Slopestyle Competition Details

Eileen Gu qualified for the slopestyle final after falling on her initial run. She scored 75.30 on her second attempt, placing her second among 23 competitors and securing one of the 12 spots in the final. The slopestyle course's rail section was noted as presenting challenges. In the men's qualifying event, American athletes Alex Hall, Konnor Ralph, and Mac Forehand advanced, with Norway's Birk Ruud achieving the highest score.

In the women's slopestyle final, Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland secured the gold medal with a score of 86.96 on her second run, marking her second consecutive Olympic slopestyle title. Eileen Gu earned the silver medal with a best effort of 86.58. Canada’s Megan Oldham received the bronze medal with a score of 76.46. Gu's final run included a fall on the first rail, which affected her score.

The margin between Gremaud's gold and Gu's silver was 0.38 points.

Gremaud had previously defeated Gu by 0.33 points in the 2022 Olympic slopestyle final. Gremaud described her winning run as her best, stating her focus was on performance. Gu commented on the unpredictable nature of contest skiing.

Freeski slopestyle involves skiers performing acrobatic maneuvers over rails and jumps, with scores based on difficulty and execution. The Livigno course featured three rail sections followed by three jumps, and the highest score from three runs determined the winner.

Halfpipe Training Schedule Conflict

Eileen Gu, competing in three freeski disciplines—slopestyle, halfpipe, and big air—expressed concerns regarding the competition schedule. The big air final, scheduled for Monday, overlaps with one of the initial three-hour halfpipe training sessions. This conflict means Gu will miss one of the three available halfpipe training sessions, reducing her practice time from three days to two.

Gu, the sole female freeskier registered for all three disciplines, approached organizers from the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) to request alternative training solutions, including the possibility of joining snowboarders' halfpipe practice. Gu stated her request was for an equal opportunity to train.

FIS and Olympic organizers declined to make adjustments to the schedule. They cited the complexity of constructing the Olympic competition program, which involves extensive cooperation between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and various International Federations. They also stated that making changes for a single athlete could set a precedent and that conflicts can be inevitable for athletes competing in multiple disciplines.

A FIS statement indicated that "Every effort has been made to facilitate the best possible training and competition schedule for athletes... but for athletes who choose to compete in multiple disciplines... conflicts can sometimes be inevitable."

FIS spokesman Bruno Sassi also noted that FIS had scheduled three training sessions before qualifying, which exceeds the two typically provided for a World Cup event. Gu expressed disappointment over the situation, stating she believed it "punishes excellence" by hindering fair training for her third event. She has not participated in halfpipe skiing since a World Cup event in December and has not competed in big air since winning a gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Games.

Athlete Background and Upcoming Events

Gu is scheduled to compete in the women's big air and women's halfpipe events.

At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Gu won three medals: gold in big air and halfpipe, and silver in slopestyle, becoming the first freestyle skier to achieve this feat at a single Olympics.

Mathilde Gremaud's Olympic medal count now totals four, including a big air bronze from 2022 and two world championships in slopestyle in 2023 and 2025. Gu also has a career as a model and brand endorser.