Winter Games 2026: Eileen Gu reveals 'secret weapon' in bid for Milano Cortina Olympic glory - and it's not what you might expect
Published 20/02/2026 at 13:46 GMT
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Eileen Gu is one of the stars of the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games and has had plenty of attention directed towards her. So how does she continue to maintain her high levels on the slopes and in front of the camera? Well, she says, it's down to her "secret weapon" that ensures that she stays fresh despite her packed schedule, which she has previously been critical of.
'Exhausted' Gu criticises 'very disappointing' decision over Olympic training schedule
Video credit: TNT Sports
And the bedrock of her preparation for when she steps onto the slopes isn't in the gym or what she eats. It is, in fact, getting enough shut-eye.
The 22-year-old’s sleep is so important to how she continues to push herself that she calls it her "secret weapon".
"I do sport because I love doing it. But I have a secret weapon," Gu told reporters at a press conference, per Vogue. "My secret weapon is that since childhood, I have - every night - had 10 hours of sleep. That’s how I grew up."
And that seems to have paid off, with Gu growing into one of the most prominent figures in Winter sports, and one of the faces of the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games.
Since arriving in Italy for this year’s games, Gu has won two silver medals and has a chance at another medal in the women’s halfpipe freestyle event, with the final on Friday.
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Watch: Gu fires back at journalist over 'ridiculous' question
Video credit: TNT Sports
Gu has voiced her concerns over the packed schedule at the 2026 Games, saying she feels "totally depleted" amid trying to compete at the top level in three different disciplines.
But ensuring she gets a full night’s sleep is key to preparing herself to excel on the slopes.
"I think that for me, especially as someone who competes in three events, it can be really tiring emotionally, going through those adrenaline peaks and crashes, even more so than physically," Gu told GQ in 2022. "That’s while training, and that goes to a whole other level while competing.
"For me, I think it was about redefining what rest looks like. Personally, it’s difficult to just lie down and do nothing, because in my head it feels like I’m being unproductive, and I could be doing something else.
"So instead of resting, I’m just laying there kind of having a panic attack. So instead of doing that, maybe, you know, running is a form of rest for me, like jogging slowly because that’s letting my mind rest. Or writing, journaling, reading."
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That importance placed on her sleep has been passed down from her mother, Gu Yan.
"When she was a little girl, I would let her sleep up to 15 hours a day. Then 13 hours when she was a primary school student," her mother told Vogue in 2022. "Now she sleeps 10 hours a day. Without adequate sleep, how can one have the energy to play?"
And that appears to have paid off, with Gu – as she describes herself – now the "most decorated female freeskier in history."
Watch every event of Milano Cortina 2026 live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.
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