Winter Olympics 2026: Eileen Gu reveals death of grandmother in press conference after halfpipe victory at Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
Published 22/02/2026 at 17:08 GMT
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Eileen Gu successfully defended her Olympic halfpipe title at Milano Cortina on Sunday. The Chinese superstar produced a brilliant run of 94.75 to beat her compatriot Li Fanghui into second, with Zoe Atkin of Great Britain securing the bronze medal. Following the event, the 22-year-old Gu revealed that she had been informed of the death of her grandmother.
Teary Gu learns of grandma death just after halfpipe gold - 'She was such a strong fighter'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Eileen Gu revealed in her press conference on Sunday following victory in the halfpipe at the 2026 Winter Olympics that she had been informed of the death of her grandmother.
Gu produced a brilliant third run of 94.75 to ensure she defended the title she won at the Beijing Games four years ago.
It was a third medal at Milano Cortina for Gu, following up her silvers in the big air and slopestyle, and her sixth in all Olympics.
The 22-year-old arrived at her press conference looking emotional, and revealed she was late after being informed that her grandmother had died.
"The reason I was late is that I just found out that my grandma passed away," Gu said. "She was a really big part of my life growing up and someone I looked up to immensely."
Gu said she was inspired by her grandmother, who she described as a "fighter" who "commanded life".
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Watch: Gu puts it DOWN with huge final run to take gold
Video credit: TNT Sports
"She was such a strong [person], a fighter," Gu said. "I think what was so interesting was that some people just cruise through life, but she was a steamship.
"This woman commanded life, she grabbed it by the reins and made it into what she wanted it to be."
Gu revealed that on the eve of the Olympics she made a promise to her grandmother that she would "be brave" on the slopes of Italy.
"She inspired me so much," Gu said. "The last time I saw her before I came to the Olympics - she was very sick, so I knew this was a possibility - I did not promise her I was going to win, but I did promise her I was going to be brave, like she has been brave.
"That’s why I keep referring to this theme of betting on myself, and being brave and taking risks. It actually goes back to that promise I made my grandma."
Gu added that her fourth Olympic gold was a mix of emotions.
"I am really happy I was able to uphold that [promise] and hopefully make her proud, but it is also a really difficult time for me now," the Chinese star said.
Speaking in the immediate aftermath of her victory, Gu referenced betting on herself to succeed.
"I am not a gambling woman, but if I were, I took a pretty big bet on myself," said Gu.
"There was a chance that everything could go wrong, and I would walk away with nothing because I'm trying to do too much. But in my head I was like, 'even if everything crashes and burns, I tried, and I will never regret trying'.
"It's not being afraid to try, especially as young women too, because a lot of the time we get in our own way and there's this sense of, 'what if people laugh at me? What if I look stupid? What if it's not possible?'
"It's trusting yourself to try, and if it doesn't work, that's OK. But who knows? Shoot for the stars."
Gu’s Olympic record
- Gold - 2022 Beijing Olympic Games big air
- Gold - 2022 Beijing Olympic Games halfpipe
- Gold - 2026 Milano Cortina Games halfpipe
- Silver - 2022 Beijing Olympic Games slopestyle
- Silver - 2026 Milano Cortina Games big air
- Silver - 2026 Milano Cortina Games slopestyle
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