Eileen Gu and Chloe Kim Shine as Milano‑Cortina Winter Olympics Enter Final Stretch
MILAN/CORTINA — The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, continued drawing global attention this week with standout performances from some of the Games’ biggest names, including freestyle skiing phenom Eileen Gu and snowboarding icon Chloe Kim. Both athletes added to their Olympic legacies in events that underscored the evolving landscape of winter sports on the world stage.
Gu’s Historic Freeski Success
Chinese freeskier Eileen Gu, born and raised in the United States, continued her remarkable Olympic run by earning multiple medals at the Milan‑Cortina Games. In freestyle skiing events including slopestyle and big air, Gu secured silver medals, bringing her Olympic career total to five medals — the most ever by a female freestyle skier.
Gu’s achievements have sparked widespread discussion and acclaim. In a press conference after her second silver, she emphatically rejected the notion that her results represented “lost golds,” calling such framing a “ridiculous perspective” and highlighting the difficulty and prestige of winning any Olympic medal. Her poised response went viral on social media, reflecting her growing influence both on and off the snow.
Gu’s versatility — competing in all three freestyle disciplines — and her consistency under pressure have firmly established her as one of the defining athletes of these Games. She still has the halfpipe event on her schedule, offering another chance to add to her historic medal collection.
Kim Narrowly Misses Historic Snowboarding Triumph
On the snowboarding front, American star Chloe Kim continued to embody excellence and perseverance. The two‑time Olympic gold medalist in women’s snowboard halfpipe was bidding to make history with a third consecutive gold medal in the event — a feat no snowboarder, male or female, has ever accomplished. Although she fell short of that landmark, Kim earned a silver medal, finishing behind South Korea’s Choi Ga‑on in a closely contested final that showcased elite talent and rising stars.
Despite competing with a shoulder injury sustained in January, Kim’s performance demonstrated both technical skill and competitive resilience. Her silver adds to an already remarkable Olympic résumé and cements her as one of the most influential snowboarders of her generation.
Olympic Patterns and Broader Storylines
Beyond individual accomplishments, the Milan‑Cortina Games have reflected a broader evolution in winter sports. Japan’s snowboard team emerged as a powerhouse, capturing multiple medals and lifting its overall tally significantly compared to previous Olympics, while athletes such as New Zealand’s Zoi Sadowski‑Synnott set new records in her discipline.
Meanwhile, other sports have continued to deliver memorable moments: alpine skiing veteran Mikaela Shiffrin claimed gold in the women’s slalom, her third Olympic alpine gold across three Games, reinforcing her status among the sport’s all‑time greats.
Legacy and Looking Ahead
As the Winter Olympics progress toward their final days, the legacies of both Eileen Gu and Chloe Kim stand out. Gu’s historic tally of freeski medals and outspoken confidence alongside athletic excellence have made her one of the most compelling figures of the Games. Kim’s return to the Olympic podium in halfpipe — amid adversity — continues a narrative of sustained excellence and influence in snowboarding and beyond.
With multiple events and medals still to be contested, the 2026 Milan‑Cortina Olympics continue to showcase the depth of talent and the evolving dynamics of winter sports competition, captivating audiences around the world.
Latest Olympic Headlines
Here are some of the top developments from the current Winter Games:
- Japan dominates snowboarding medals, with Kokomo Murase leading a surprising surge in the sport.
- Eileen Gu dismisses “golds lost” framing, emphasizing the challenge of medaling at the Olympics.
- Chloe Kim earns silver in halfpipe, narrowly missing a historic third straight gold.
- Mikaela Shiffrin wins alpine slalom gold, marking a triumphant return to the top of the podium.
