In a breathtaking display of athleticism and daring, the Olympic slopestyle event just witnessed a showdown that will go down in history as one of the most thrilling competitions ever seen. But here’s where it gets controversial: while Mathilde Gremaud claimed her second consecutive gold, Eileen Gu’s silver medal run has sparked debates about risk-taking, consistency, and the evolving standards of women’s freeskiing. Let’s dive into the details.
LIVIGNO, Italy — The trick is aptly named “disaster,” a move so perilous it can either make or break a skier’s run. For Eileen Gu, it was a calculated gamble. On Monday, during the supersized rails portion of the Olympic slopestyle course, Gu landed this infamous trick on her first attempt, securing her a second straight silver medal in the event. This marked the beginning of her ambitious Milan-Cortina journey, where she’ll compete in three events and face up to 15 high-stakes runs over 15 days. However, her failure to land the trick in her subsequent two attempts effectively dashed her hopes for gold.
And this is the part most people miss: while Gu’s strategy was bold, it was Mathilde Gremaud’s consistent yet jaw-dropping performance that sealed her victory. For the second consecutive Olympics, Gremaud stood atop the podium, her run hailed as one of the greatest in the sport’s history. “That was definitely the best slopestyle run I’ve ever done,” Gu admitted, while Gremaud echoed, “It’s the best one I’ve ever done in my life.”
Canada’s Megan Oldham added to the spectacle, executing back-to-back jumps with a staggering 1260 degrees of spin—a rarity in any competition—earning her the bronze. The margin between Gremaud and Gu? A mere .38 points, nearly identical to their Beijing Games showdown four years ago. Yet, their approaches couldn’t have been more different.
Here’s the controversial part: Gu recently overhauled her rails portion, opting for the longer, riskier rail on the right—a choice no other finalist made. The “disaster” trick, which involves skiing backward, leaping over the lower feature while twisting unnaturally to the right, and landing precisely on the rail, is notorious for its difficulty. “It can go really, really bad,” said U.S. coach Ryan Wyble, echoing sentiments from analysts like Tom Wallisch, who praised this as the most progressive women’s contest ever.
When executed perfectly, though, it’s a game-changer. Gu’s successful first run gave her the lead and a sense of triumph, especially after the trick had plagued her during training and caused a fall in qualifying. “To peak at the right time is a testament to my mental strength,” she said. The judges agreed, awarding her the highest marks of the day for her first jump and rails portion.
But the real crowd-pleaser—the high-flying jumps that define slopestyle—came in the bottom section, where Gremaud focused her efforts. Her winning run included skiing backward, flipping twice while spinning once, and landing flawlessly—a feat she’d never achieved in competition. She followed it with back-to-back 1260s in opposite directions. “Definitely the most intense run I’ve ever done,” she remarked.
Gu, meanwhile, couldn’t replicate her “disaster” trick in her second or third runs. After her final fall, she stabbed her poles into the snow, hands on hips, before skiing down with a smile. This turned Gremaud’s final run into a victory lap, as she cruised down the course with her country’s flag trailing behind her.
During the medalist press conference, Gremaud admitted, “I was not happy for you that you didn’t land the third run, but I was happy for myself that I didn’t have to push harder.” Gu laughed, understanding the unspoken rivalry. Both agreed the real winner was women’s skiing itself.
Now, here’s the question that’s dividing fans: Did Gu’s risky strategy elevate the sport, or did it cost her the gold? While she expressed pride in her first run, she acknowledged, “Did I want to land a second and third run? Yes. But can I be disappointed? No. You’re watching women’s skiing evolve in real time—how special is that?”
What do you think? Did Gu’s bold approach push the boundaries too far, or is consistency the key to victory? Let us know in the comments below. One thing’s for sure: this competition has set a new standard for women’s freeskiing, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.
AP writer Joseph Wilson in Livigno contributed to this report.
AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
