Olympics 2026: Cross-Country Ski Race Is Crashed By a Dog in Paws-itively Adorable Moment
Eileen Gu knows what it takes to medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
So, when a reporter asked if her second-place finishes in the women’s freeski slopestyle were “two silvers gained or two golds lost,” the 22-year-old set the record straight.
“I’m the most decorated female freeskier in history,” the Team China skier responded at the Feb. 16 press conference after the competition. “I think that’s an answer in and of itself. How do I say this? Winning a medal at the Olympics is a life-changing experience for every athlete. Doing it five times is exponentially harder.”
Eileen—who, at age 18, became the youngest gold medalist in freestyle skiing in 2022—emphasized that despite every medal being “equally hard,” expectations continue to rise.
“The two medals lost situation, to be quite frank with you, I think, is kind of a ridiculous perspective to take,” she continued. “I’m showcasing my best skiing. I’m doing things that quite literally have never been done before, and so I think that is more than good enough, but thank you.”