Gremaud’s second-run score proves decisive in close contest
Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland has claimed the Olympic freeski slopestyle gold medal, narrowly defeating Eileen Gu of China. The event, held in Livigno, Italy, saw Gremaud defend her title from the previous Winter Games, with Gu again securing the silver medal. Gu’s final run, which she needed to be exceptionally high-scoring to overtake Gremaud, ended prematurely when she fell on the first rail. This outcome also dashed Gu's aspirations of achieving a historic Olympic treble, with two more events remaining in her schedule.
Event Overview and Key Performances
The women’s freeski slopestyle final unfolded as a keenly contested event between two top contenders. The competition allowed athletes three runs, with the best score from each run counting towards their final standing.
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Mathilde Gremaud’s Victory: Gremaud’s winning score of 86.96 was achieved on her second run. This performance placed her ahead of Gu’s best score. Gremaud later recorded a lower score on her third run after a significant error.
Eileen Gu’s Challenge: Gu initially led the competition after her first run, scoring 86.58. Her second run was marred by a mistake on the first rail, resulting in a score of 23.00. Needing a near-perfect final run to reclaim the lead, Gu fell on the opening rail of her third attempt.
Other Competitors: Great Britain’s Katie Ormerod finished fourth. Other athletes, including China's Liu Mengting and Austria's Lara Wolf, also experienced errors on their final runs, impacting their medal chances. Canada's Megan Oldham secured the bronze medal with a score of 76.46.
Analysis of Key Runs
The competition’s decisive moments occurred during the athletes' second and third runs.
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Gremaud’s Leading Run: Gremaud delivered her top-scoring performance of 86.96 on her second attempt. This score ultimately proved sufficient to clinch the gold medal, as neither athlete was able to surpass it in their subsequent runs.
Gu’s Setbacks: Gu’s second run saw a significant point deduction due to a mistake on a rail. Her final run, intended to secure gold, ended very early due to a fall. This pattern of difficulty on rails was also observed in her qualifying runs.
Rivalry Dynamics
The slopestyle final represented a rematch of the Beijing Winter Olympics, where Gremaud also emerged victorious over Gu. This latest result underscores the ongoing intense rivalry between the two athletes at the highest level of the sport. Gu is scheduled to compete in two more events, the big air and halfpipe, where she will aim to add to her medal collection.
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Athlete Backgrounds and Motivations
Both Gremaud and Gu are prominent figures in freeskiing. Gremaud, who celebrated her 26th birthday shortly before the event, has accumulated multiple Olympic medals throughout her career. Reports suggest that Gremaud finds her best performances when her mind is clear and the pressure is reduced, indicating a psychological element to her success. Gu, dressed in distinctive attire featuring Chinese dragon motifs, has faced personal challenges, including the loss of an aunt and a separation from her manager, as she pursues her Olympic ambitions.
Conclusion
Mathilde Gremaud successfully defended her Olympic freeski slopestyle title, her second-run score of 86.96 proving to be the deciding factor against Eileen Gu’s best score of 86.58. Gu’s hopes for gold were extinguished by errors on her second and final runs, the latter being a fall on the opening rail. The competition highlighted the high stakes and close competition at the elite level of winter sports, with Gremaud emerging victorious in a rematch of the previous Olympic final. Gu now shifts her focus to the remaining events in her bid for further Olympic success.
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Sources:
ESPN: https://www.espn.com/olympics/story//id/47875798/mathilde-gremaud-denies-eileen-gu-olympic-slopestyle-gold - Provides detailed account of the final runs and scores._
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/feb/09/winter-olympics-2026-live-day-three - Offers live coverage context and notes on other competitors' final runs.
NBC New York: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/olympics/2026-milan-cortina/mathilde-gremaud-freeski-slopestyle-gold-eileen-gu/6458180/ - Details Gremaud's winning run and Gu's final run error, mentioning other athletes.
Olympics.com: https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/news/winter-olympics-2026-freestyle-skiing-mathilde-gremaud-pips-eileen-gu-to-slopestyle-gold-in-thrilling-beijing-rematch - Frames the event as a rematch and discusses the progression of scores and reactions.
France 24: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260209-gremaud-ends-gu-s-hopes-of-olympic-treble-in-freeski-slopestyle - Highlights the impact of the result on Gu's goal of a treble and provides background on both athletes.
The New York Times (Athletic): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7026614/2026/02/07/mathilde-gremaud-freeski-slopestyle-milan-cortina/ - Offers insights into Gremaud's mindset and career, published prior to the event.
USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2026/02/09/mathilde-gremaud-eileen-gu-slopestyle-showdown/88586243007/ - Describes the competition as a "duel" and mentions Gu's previous issues with rails.
NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/gremaud-denies-gu-olympic-gold-medal-freeski-slopestyle-rcna258148 - Confirms Gremaud’s title defense and Gu’s silver medal, reiterating the decisive nature of Gu's final run error.
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