Eileen Gu wins second straight Olympic gold in women's freeski halfpipe

The American-born skier, competing for China, honors the loss of her grandmother with her historic victory.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Eileen Gu, the American-born freeskier who competes for China, has won her second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the women's halfpipe event at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Gu pulled out on her first run but bounced back with a 94.00 in Run 2 and a 94.75 in Run 3, both good enough for gold. This was an emotional day for Gu, as she learned shortly after winning that her grandmother, Guozhen Feng, had passed away.

Why it matters

Gu has now won six total Olympic medals, making her the most accomplished freestyle skier in Winter Olympics history. Her choice to compete for China, where her mother was born, despite being born in San Francisco, has made her a controversial figure, but her success has also allowed her to become a multimillionaire endorsement star in both countries.

The details

Gu's teammate Li Fanghui earned silver with a 93.00 on her third run, giving China a 1-2 finish. Great Britain's Zoe Atkin, Gu's classmate at Stanford, was in the lead after her first run but couldn't recover from missing a landing on her second run, finishing third with a 92.50 on her third run.

  • Gu won her second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the women's halfpipe event on February 22, 2026.
  • Shortly after winning, Gu learned that her grandmother, Guozhen Feng, had passed away.

The players

Eileen Gu

An American-born freeskier who competes for China, where her mother was born. She has now won six total Olympic medals, making her the most accomplished freestyle skier in Winter Olympics history.

Li Fanghui

Gu's teammate who earned silver in the women's freeski halfpipe event.

Zoe Atkin

A British freeskier and Gu's classmate at Stanford University, who finished third in the event.

Guozhen Feng

Gu's grandmother, who passed away shortly after Gu's gold medal win.

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What they’re saying

“She was a steam ship. This woman commanded life, and she grabbed it by the reins, and she made it into what she wanted it to be.”

— Eileen Gu

“Being able to lead the way and pioneer the sport is something I never imagined I'd be able to do. But I'm really honored and proud that I have.”

— Eileen Gu

“The reason I love the records so much is that it's not about man or woman. I'm the most decorated freeskier of all time, male or female. I have the most gold medals ever, male or female. That's a testament to competitive strength, it's mental strength. It's being able to perform under pressure.”

— Eileen Gu

What’s next

Gu is expected to compete in the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps, where she will likely add to her impressive medal total.

The takeaway

Eileen Gu's historic success at the Winter Olympics, including her second consecutive gold medal in the women's freeski halfpipe, solidifies her status as the most accomplished freestyle skier of all time, male or female. Her choice to compete for China has made her a controversial figure, but her dominance and marketability have allowed her to become a multimillionaire endorsement star in both the U.S. and China.