Gu sets sights on more sporting glory
After bagging gold in Big Air, silver in slopestyle, Chinese star eyes halfpipe
After claiming the silver medal in the women’s freeski slopestyle at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics on Feb 15, China’s Gu Ailing immediately started training at the halfpipe course.
“Winning medals in the three events at Beijing 2022 has always been my biggest goal. I know it’s something I can do. I wanted to get on the podium,” the 18-year-old said of her triple-medal bid.
The superstar has already won gold in the freestyle skiing Big Air event. Her next challenge at Beijing 2022 would be the freeski halfpipe qualifiers, which was set for Feb 17.
“Because I also have to compete at the slopestyle, my training time at the halfpipe is cut in half so I have to work harder than anyone else,” she said.
Gu said halfpipe is the event she loves the most.
“My grandma is going to watch me compete in halfpipe, which means the world to me. She’s never watched me compete before so hopefully I can put on a good show for her. But I love halfpipe, it’s so much fun for me.”
Gu’s mother called her on the phone and suggested she skip the halfpipe training session. “Of course, I am off training,” Gu said, while eating a steamed bun to replenish her energy.
Her journey to slopestyle silver was by no means smooth. She only managed to score 69.90 points for her first run, which left her out of the medal standings. To make matters worse, she fell at the beginning of her second run.
Gu said her plan was originally to do what she did on her last run on her first run, but things did not go according to plan. She received 86.23 points for her last run, which secured the silver. Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland took gold and Kelly Sildaru of Estonia won bronze.
“I’m out here to represent myself and the sport to people. So just to be able to put down a run and show people what’s possible when you’re under pressure, which is another thing that I’m proud to represent,” she said.
Gu said the thing she likes the most about freestyle skiing is that it is not about the origin of the athletes or the color of their skin. “Skiing is something that can bring us all together, and we can make friends with each other. I congratulate the others because I want them to be their best,” she said.
When questioned if she believes that a compromise was made by representing China, Gu said she chose to ski for China because it offered a massive opportunity to spread the sport to people who have not even heard of it before.
“Honestly, I have met my goal. There are 300 million people on snow, so to have even influenced a tiny fraction of that makes me immensely proud,” she said. “I’m hoping to inspire young girls. So that’s my message right now.”