Zhangjiakou (AP) – China’s superstar Eileen Gu won the third medal in the third competition at the Winter Olympics. After gold in big air and silver in slopestyle, the 18-year-old also came out on top in the halfpipe competition.
In the first of her three attempts, Gu secured the gold medal and went even further in the second jump with 95.25 points. The American-born, who competes for hosts China, is the first freestyler to win three medals at the same Games.
“My biggest goal is to get young girls excited about the sport,” said Gu, referring to her historic triumph. She hopes that freestyle skiing will gain popularity in her mother’s home country. Silver and bronze went to Canada’s Cassie Sharpe and Rachael Karker.
Germany’s only starter Sabrina Cakmakli ended up in twelfth place in the final of the twelve best athletes. Compared to her competitors, the sports soldier turned through the snow tube at a much slower pace, so her jumps were a lot lower. In 2018 in Pyeongchang, the 27-year-old from Garmisch-Partenkirchen finished eighth. “I’m super disappointed because I couldn’t show what I can do. It would have been better,” said Cakmakli, who was struggling with the strong wind.