Eileen Gu told of grandmother's death after winning Olympic gold
ESPN • • sports
Key Points:
- Eileen Gu won her third Olympic gold medal in freeskiing halfpipe, becoming the most decorated freeskier in Olympic history, while coping with the recent death of her grandmother, who inspired her bravery and determination.
- Born in the U.S. but competing for China, Gu faces frequent questions about her nationality and uses these moments to encourage others to focus on making positive impacts in the world.
- Gu credits her success to taking risks and trusting herself, likening her Olympic competition to a marathon run at sprint speed, and acknowledges that competitors are closing the gap in skill level.
- Beyond medals, Gu is passionate about growing the sport of freeskiing, noting that over 300 million people in China have tried snow sports since her previous
