She’s only just come of age but has already won her first Olympic gold medal. Eileen Gu couldn’t hide her tears after this special performance.
Ski freestyle star Eileen Gu has won her first gold medal at the Beijing Winter Olympics. The 18-year-old double world champion, who was born in California but competes for China, won the final of the Big Air competition on Tuesday. “This is the best moment of my life. I can’t believe what just happened,” Gu said. She looked completely overwhelmed. She even shed tears of joy in the run-out area.
Before the eyes of IOC President Thomas Bach, she prevailed on the course in Shougang with 188.25 points ahead of Tess Ledeux from France (187.50) and Mathilde Gremaud from Switzerland (182.50). Gu gave China the third gold of the Winter Games.
The only German starter Aliah Delia Eichinger (St. Oswald) had missed entering the medal fight in her Olympic debut as 18th. The Big Air competition, held on a former steelworks site, is part of the Olympic program for the first time in Beijing. Eichinger is also the only German in slopestyle (from February 13th in Zhangjiakou). The Chinese hopeful Gu, who also competes in the halfpipe (from February 17), will also be at the start there again.