Feb 16, 2026; Livigno, Italy; Silver medalist Ailing Eileen Gu of the People’s Republic of China celebrates during the medal ceremony for the women’s big air final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Eileen Gu is making it clear that silver medals are nothing to dismiss.
After earning two second-place finishes in the women’s freeski slopestyle at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the 22-year-old skier faced a pointed question from a reporter asking whether her results should be viewed as “two silvers gained or two golds lost.” Gu didn’t hesitate to shut down the framing, calling it an unfair and unrealistic way to look at Olympic competition.
Speaking at a press conference on Feb. 16, Gu reminded everyone of the bigger picture: her career has already made history. She noted that she is the most decorated female freeskier of all time, suggesting that her achievements speak for themselves. Gu emphasized that winning any Olympic medal is a major accomplishment, describing it as a life-changing moment for athletes. Doing it repeatedly, she added, is even more difficult, since the pressure and expectations grow with every appearance.
Feb 14, 2026; Livigno, Italy; Ailing Eileen Gu of China in the women’s freestyle skiing big air qualification during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Gu pushed back strongly against the idea that silver medals represent failure. She called the “two medals lost” mindset “ridiculous,” stressing that she is still performing at the highest level and continuing to push the sport forward. In her view, the focus should be on the fact that she is delivering her best skiing and landing tricks that have never been done before. That kind of progress, she suggested, is just as meaningful as standing on the top step of the podium.
Her comments reflect the attitude she has carried into the Milano Cortina Games, where her personal goals have shifted toward pride in performance rather than chasing perfection. In a recent Vogue interview published Feb. 18, Gu shared that her main hope for this Olympics was simply to land runs she could feel proud of. She admitted she once worried she might have peaked at age 18, when she became the youngest Olympic gold medalist in freestyle skiing in 2022. But she said she no longer feels that way and believes she is still growing as an athlete.
Feb 16, 2026; Livigno, Italy; Silver medalist Ailing Eileen Gu of the People’s Republic of China, Megan Oldham of Canada, and Flora Tabanelli of Italy during the medal ceremony for the women’s big air final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Wint Games at Livigno Snow Park. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Beyond her own success, Gu also expressed a desire to inspire more women to join the sport. She explained that competition only becomes more exciting when the field grows stronger, and she welcomes the challenge. In an earlier comment to Reuters, she compared elite competition to a “rising tide” that lifts everyone, saying top athletes want worthy opponents because it pushes them to improve.
Gu’s message is clear: silver medals aren’t a disappointment—they’re proof of world-class talent, resilience, and continued evolution in a sport where staying on top is never guaranteed.
