ZHANGJIAKOU, China — Even when Eileen Gu’s merely taking a celebratory stroll by way of the halfpipe, she’s nonetheless so fashionable and makes it look so easy.
The 18-year-old American-born freestyle skier who represents China captured Olympic gold within the ladies’s halfpipe on a breezy and chilly Friday morning to change into the primary action-sports athlete to choose up three medals on the identical Winter Video games.
Together with her fingers on her hips, Gu visualized her first two runs on the high of the Secret Backyard halfpipe course. Then, she flawlessly executed her plan. She warmed up with a 93.25 on her first go earlier than going even increased and larger to put up a 95.25 on her second.
However this was the kind of run Gu visualized all alongside — a pleasant relaxed stroll by way of the halfpipe because the final competitor and with the win sealed.
She had enjoyable along with her victory run, too, going large off the partitions one final time and bending again her skis — a high-flying, picture-perfect second to culminate one other profitable day at her workplace.
“I really feel at peace. I really feel grateful. I really feel proud,” Gu mentioned. “Snowboarding is all about enjoyable and individuality and with the ability to specific your self and discover that circulate, and for myself I actually discover that in halfpipe. With the ability to really feel the rhythm of the partitions, and with the ability to put distinctive grabs, to strive totally different axis, spin totally different instructions — it’s actually enjoyable and it’s the essence of the game.”
It’s one other medal for Gu as she provides to her gold from large air and silver from slopestyle.
“She’s actually pushing the game to a brand new stage,” mentioned British freestyler Zoe Atkin, who completed ninth. “It’s actually nice to see and it’s so inspiring. It makes me need to be a greater skier myself. I feel she’s superb for the game.”
Defending Olympic champion Cassie Sharpe of Canada was second with a rating of 90.75. She threw a pair of spectacular 1080s and mentioned after the outcome: “I’ll take it.” She’s just a bit over a 12 months faraway from struggling a torn ligament in her knee.
“It feels surreal at this level,” Sharpe mentioned. “I can’t even put it into phrases. I’ve been by way of hell and again the final 12 months, so I’m simply so grateful that each one the items that I’ve labored so onerous on got here collectively in the present day.”
Sharpe’s teammate, Rachael Karker, took bronze. Teenager Hanna Faulhaber was the highest American finisher in sixth place.
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The temperature hovered round 3 levels Fahrenheit with an 11 mph wind and loads of gusts. Comparable to on Gu’s second run, when the wind struck proper when she was crusing by way of the air, a plume of snow blowing behind her. It didn’t appear to trouble her. Nothing has.
There was loads of strain and many consideration on Gu and her Olympic quest. She simply went about her enterprise of successful medals as she competed for her mom’s dwelling nation.
The teenager from San Francisco was cheered on by a flag-waving crowd within the stands. Later, she donned a stocking cap that includes a panda as throngs of individuals tried to snap her image.
“It’s super-nice to compete in entrance of your own home crowd,” mentioned Estonia’s Kelly Sildaru, who completed fourth. “I'd be super-stoked.”
All of this appeared nearly surreal to Gu. It’s nonetheless simply soaking in.
“It has been two straight weeks of essentially the most intense highs and lows I’ve ever skilled in my life,” Gu mentioned. “It’s modified my life perpetually. The second I landed the final 16 in large air I knew my life was by no means going to be the identical.”
Like Gu, Sildaru competed in three freestyle snowboarding occasions. Sildaru earned a bronze in slopestyle.
“I’m simply blissful now that I can return dwelling and relaxation a bit bit,” Sildaru mentioned.
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