U.S.-born skier Eileen Gu defends Olympic ski halfpipe gold at Milano Cortina Video games

Eileen Gu defended her Olympic ski halfpipe title on Sunday to make it six medals in six occasions over her Winter Video games profession.

The 22-year-old Gu, American-born however competing for her mom’s homeland of China, is already probably the most embellished freeskier within the quick historical past of the game on the Olympics. She additionally captured two silver medals on the Milan Cortina Video games, to pair with two golds and a silver from the Beijing Video games.

Gu received the occasion on the power of her second run, a clear, technically sound go. She received even higher in her last run — pumping his ski poles after touchdown the ultimate trick — and completed with a rating of 94.75. Her teammate, Li Fanghui, took silver and Zoe Atkin of Britain was third.

“She is unreal. It is fairly loopy how good she is,” New Zealand’s Mischa Thomas mentioned of Gu. “She is ‘Marvel Girl.'”

The occasion was rescheduled to Sunday following a giant snowstorm the evening earlier than. It was a brilliant, sunny day as Gu shone within the last occasion on the Livigno Snow Park. She shielded her eyes from the solar to catch a peek of her profitable rating — and immediately favored what she noticed.

There have been fairly a number of Gu followers on the base of the halfpipe, holding up photos of her and waving flags.

Atkin, an American-born skier who competes for her father’s homeland of Britain, soared excessive all contest, a staggering 5.4 meters (18 toes) above the pipe at one level. She completed ninth on the Beijing Video games however has been a gradual presence on World Cup podiums ever since. She has three victories during the last 4 years, all in occasions the place Gu did not compete. The 23-year-old Atkin is the defending world champion.

In her second run, Thomas dropped into the halfpipe — and dropped her telephone. It needed to be retrieved for Thomas. After the competitors, she reported: “My telephone is nice. By no means been higher.”

Svea Irving was a “DNS” — didn’t begin — within the American’s second run. She returned for a 3rd run however struggled to finish a maneuver and completed in eleventh.

“It was fairly insane,” Thomas mentioned on the printed of the competitors.

Atkin took the lead after the primary run with a clean efficiency. In the meantime, Gu misplaced her stability on her first trick and reduce the run quick.

Cassie Sharpe of Canada sat out the ultimate after a tough crash in Thursday’s qualifying spherical. She received the gold within the occasion on the 2018 PyeongChang Video games and silver 4 years later in Beijing.