Gu wins women's free ski halfpipe, her second gold for China at Beijing 2022
Chinese athlete Gu Ailing competes during the freestyle skiing women's freeski halfpipe final of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
Free ski talent Gu Ailing eased to top podium of her odds-on halfpipe at the Beijing 2022 here on Feb. 18, which is her second gold medal for host China.
Gu, 18, grabbed her first gold in the big air event in her Olympic debut on Feb. 8 in Beijing, and won the silver in the slopestyle here on Feb. 15.
Best at halfpipe in the three events she attended, Gu scored 93.25 points in her first run to lead the 12-strong final standings, collecting 95.25 points in her second run to extend the lead and sealed the win before her third run.
Gu was the last competitor came out in every run in the final as she topped the qualification with 95.50 on Thursday. Before her third run on Friday, all the other finalists could not surpass her definitely. Then Gu made an easy run to celebrate her triumph.
In the three-run final, Canadian skier Cassie Sharpe took the silver with her stable performances. Her best score was 90.75 in her third run and the worst was 89.00 in her first run.
The bronze went to Rachael Darker, also a Canadian, with her first-run score of 87.75.
Gu's teammates Li Fanghui and Zhang Kevin finished fifth and seventh, both with their first-run scores. ■
Chinese athlete Gu Ailing competes during the freestyle skiing women's freeski halfpipe final of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Chinese athlete Gu Ailing competes during the freestyle skiing women's freeski halfpipe final of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
Chinese athlete Gu Ailing competes during the freestyle skiing women's freeski halfpipe final of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)