Eileen Gu Aims for Final Olympic Gold in Milan

The Stanford student and freestyle skiing star competes in her last event of the 2026 Winter Games.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Eileen Gu, the freestyle skiing sensation from San Francisco, is set to compete in the women's halfpipe event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. This will be Gu's final event of the Games, where she has already won silver medals in big air and slopestyle. Gu, who chose to represent China in 2019, is looking to cap off her Olympic campaign with a gold medal and cement her legacy as one of the greatest female freestyle skiers of all time.

Why it matters

Gu's decision to compete for China has been controversial, but her talent and achievements have made her one of the most popular and well-known Winter Olympians, drawing comparisons to legends like Lindsey Vonn and Shaun White. This final event is Gu's chance to solidify her place in history and leave the Olympics on a high note.

The details

Gu will compete in the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe event, with the qualifying rounds taking place on Thursday, February 19 and the finals on Saturday, February 21. The qualifying runs will be at 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm local time in Milan, while the finals will be at 7:30 pm, 8:00 pm, and 8:30 pm local time. For viewers in California, the qualifying rounds will be at 10:30 am and 11:30 am PT, and the finals will be at 10:30 am, 11:00 am, and 11:30 am PT.

  • The qualifying rounds for the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe event will take place on Thursday, February 19 at 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm local time in Milan.
  • The finals for the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe event will take place on Saturday, February 21 at 7:30 pm, 8:00 pm, and 8:30 pm local time in Milan.

The players

Eileen Gu

A freestyle skier and current Stanford University undergraduate who has already won two silver medals at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics and is looking to cap off her Olympic campaign with a gold medal in the women's halfpipe event.

Lindsey Vonn

A legendary American alpine skier who is considered one of the greatest female skiers of all time.

Shaun White

A legendary American snowboarder who is considered one of the greatest snowboarders of all time.

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What’s next

Gu will be looking to finish her Milano-Cortina campaign strong and return home with another medal around her neck.

The takeaway

Eileen Gu's final Olympic event in Milan is a chance for the freestyle skiing star to cement her legacy as one of the greatest female Winter Olympians of all time, regardless of the controversy surrounding her decision to compete for China.