Mathilde Gremaud beats Eileen Gu to Olympic gold in women’s freeski slopestyle

LIVIGNO, Italy — The long road of the last four years for Switzerland’s Mathilde Gremaud, one that left her aimless and adrift and wondering if she even wanted to make another run at Olympic gold, culminated Monday at Livigno Snow Park with what is likely the most satisfying triumph of her decorated career.

The 26-year-old defended her gold medal from 2022 with a stirring second run in the women’s freeski slopestyle final that featured three double corks — a 1080 and two 1260s — and led to a passionate fist pump and the furious ringing of cowbells from her compatriots in attendance as she became the first repeat winner since the sport debuted at the Games in 2014.

Her score of 86.96 was enough to supplant China’s Eileen Gu, who had been holding the top position after an 86.58 on her first run. Gu would later tell reporters it was her best-ever performance in the event.

“That was hands down the best slopestyle run I’d ever done,” Gu said in a news conference, the enormity of her fame clear for all to see as she took over two hours to negotiate questions from reporters and picture requests from fans.

“I’ve never done a switch-right rail in a slopestyle contest ever. I actually learned that trick last week. All together, being able to put it down when it counts, to peak at the right time … I’m so proud of myself to be able to do that.”

Gu scored a 23.00 on her second run, then fell early on her third, essentially sealing the gold for Gremaud. After her win, she draped herself in the Swiss flag and pumped her skis in the air. Chants of “Mati! Mati!” rang out.

She’d done it again.

Gu, who had 2024 Olympic table tennis gold medallist Chen Meng supporting her in Livigno, was downbeat and frustrated after her fall had failed to put pressure on the defending champion ahead of her final run. She settled for silver and will be a favorite in the big air and halfpipe events later in these Olympics.

The margins were also small in the battle for bronze. In her final run, Canada’s Megan Oldham scored 76.46 to beat Britain’s Kirsty Muir to bronze by 0.41 of a point.

The Briton was tearful as she spoke to reporters afterwards, saying: “I’m not angry with myself, I’m not disappointed, it’s just a tough place to be.”

“I was so proud to put one down (on the third run) but I’m struggling to accept how close it was,” she added. “I know I’ve got more in me. I’m glad I put it all out there.”

In Beijing, Gremaud edged Gu by just 0.33 of a point then fell into a dark post-Olympics funk. She didn’t train. She didn’t compete. For a while, she didn’t even want to exercise. After winning gold — something she’d dreamed of since her father snapped into her first pair of skis at two years old — she wasn’t sure what was next. “I couldn’t see the future,” she said. “I didn’t have goals.”

Through time — and work with an “energy coach” back in Switzerland — Gremaud climbed out of it, and entered the 2026 Milan Cortina games in a much better headspace.

She demonstrated as much in Saturday’s qualifying, dropping the top two scores of the day to breeze into the final. “Nothing went wrong,” she said. It was the same Monday. On the biggest stage, once again, Gremaud delivered. The title is hers for four more years.

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