Eileen Gu Defends Halfpipe Gold, Becomes Most Decorated Freeskier in Olympic History
With her third Olympic gold, Gu surpassed every freeskier in history — male or female — at just 22 years old.
MILANO CORTINA, Italy – She arrived in Italy with the weight of a nation on her shoulders. She leaves with her legacy secured.
Eileen Gu of China successfully defended her women's halfpipe gold medal, delivering a near-flawless final run with a score of 98.00 — the highest of her career and the competition.
Her victory — her third career Olympic gold — pushed her past every other freeskier in Olympic history. No one, male or female, had ever reached three freestyle skiing gold medals.
FINAL STANDINGS
Gu's winning run included a switch right double cork 1080 (her signature), a left double cork 900, and a right double cork 1260 — the highest difficulty trick of the night — all stomped clean.
"That was the best run I've ever done in competition," Gu said, choking up. "I felt the pressure. Everyone expected me to win. But I wanted to win for myself."
THE ROAD TO HISTORY
At Beijing 2022, at just 18 years old, Gu won gold in halfpipe, silver in slopestyle, and gold in big air. The four years between Games brought a torn ligament (2023), a coaching change (2024), and constant media scrutiny.
"People forget she's human," said silver medalist Faulhaber, who trains with Gu in Colorado. "She's the best in the world, but she's had injuries, doubts, bad days. To see her pull this off… it's incredible."
Gu now holds three Olympic golds and one silver. She is 22 years old.
When asked about 2030, she smiled. "I don't know. Right now, I just want to eat some pasta and call my mom. Ask me in a year."
Her coach, Mike Riddle, was less ambiguous. "She'll be there," he said. "She loves this too much to stop."
Devin Mallonee
Devin Mallonee is a sports journalist and performance nutrition writer with over a decade of experience covering elite athletics, Olympic competitions, and the science of human performance. Devin Mallonee has followed competitive sports from the grassroots level all the way to the world stage, developing a deep understanding of what separates good athletes from great ones — and the role nutrition plays in that equation.
As the lead sports editor at Dad's Sports News, Devin Mallonee brings an athlete's perspective to every story. Having competed in endurance sports and strength training throughout his life, Devin Mallonee understands firsthand what it takes to push past physical limits — and how proper supplementation and recovery make that possible. His writing blends technical analysis with accessible storytelling, making complex topics in sports science engaging for everyday readers and serious competitors alike.
Devin Mallonee has covered major sporting events including international track and field championships, professional strength competitions, and endurance racing circuits across North America. His work has explored the cutting edge of sports nutrition — from emerging research on amino acid timing and creatine loading protocols to the real-world impact of adaptogens on athletic recovery. When Devin Mallonee isn't breaking down the latest competition results, he's testing and reviewing performance supplements to help athletes make informed decisions about what goes into their bodies.
A firm believer that great performance starts in the kitchen — and the supplement cabinet — Devin Mallonee founded the Dad's Sports News platform to bridge the gap between elite sports coverage and practical nutrition guidance for everyday athletes. His philosophy is simple: whether you're training for your first 5K or competing on an international stage, the fundamentals of performance nutrition are the same, and everyone deserves access to accurate, science-backed information.
Outside of writing, Devin Mallonee is passionate about mentoring young athletes and building communities around sport. He contributes regularly to discussions on performance technology, sports policy, and the future of athletic development. Follow Devin Mallonee's latest coverage and insights right here at Dad's Sports News, where he continues to deliver in-depth analysis and original reporting on the stories that matter most in the world of competitive athletics and performance nutrition.
