Eileen Gu Secures Second Consecutive Slopestyle Title at Laax Open

Eileen Gu, a two-time Olympic champion, successfully defended her slopestyle title at the Laax Open in Switzerland on Saturday. Despite experiencing a crash during her second run, Gu had already secured victory with a leading score of 85.13 from her flawless first run. The 22-year-old skier attempted a challenging double cork 1080 but fell hard on her right side, losing one ski and her poles in the process. After the fall, she skied down to the finish line, appearing uninjured and expressing her satisfaction with the competition.

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Gu's performance at the Laax Open is particularly significant as it follows her mixed results at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, where she won gold in halfpipe and big air but fell short of gold in slopestyle, earning a silver medal instead. As she prepares for the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Games, Gu is positioned as a favorite to secure the slopestyle gold medal, aiming to enhance her Olympic medal collection.

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Eileen Gu, who represents China but was born in the United States, is a prominent figure in freestyle skiing. Her victory at Laax marks her record-extending 20th World Cup career win and her fourth in slopestyle. Other notable competitors included Marin Hamill from the U.S., who finished in second place, and Lara Wolf from Austria, who took third. Swiss skier Mathilde Gremaud, who previously edged Gu for gold in 2022, finished seventh in this event.

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After her victory, Gu remarked, "That's so special. First of all, I can't believe it's been that many. Secondly, I think every one gets harder, and I think people sometimes take it for granted." Her comments reflect both her appreciation for her achievements and the challenges that come with competing at a high level.

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While Gu's performance was celebrated, some critics argue that the pressure of high expectations could impact her performance in future competitions. The intense scrutiny surrounding her status as a favorite may add additional stress as she heads into the Milan Cortina Games.

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The freestyle skiing and snowboarding events at the Milan Cortina Winter Games are set to begin soon, with snowboarding starting on February 5 and freestyle skiing commencing two days later. Gu's upcoming participation will be closely watched as she seeks to add to her Olympic accolades.

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• "I'm OK. I don't really like taking a victory lap, so I wanted to just do something to keep pushing and show my best out here. But that's the sport, sometimes you fall, so it's OK." — Eileen Gu, Olympic Champion

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• "That's so special. First of all, I can't believe it's been that many." — Eileen Gu, reflecting on her 20th World Cup victory.

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