Gremaud and Gu gunning for gold in Olympic Slopestyle final

A day after turning 26, Mathilde Gremaud (SUI) will be out to ensure that 2026 is the year she becomes a back-to-back Olympic Slopestyle champion.

The reigning world champion topped qualification at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 on Saturday, sending out a strong statement with two heavy runs.

She had the highest score of the 23-strong field for both runs, 76.68 and 79.15 points respectively.

Gremaud capped her second run with the biggest trick of the day — a double cork 1260. And she is promising more at Livigno Snow Park tomorrow.

Eileen Gu (CHN) showed her mettle on Saturday, responding to an uncharacteristic fall on the first rail of her first run to score 75.30 points on her second run.

Under pressure, Gu underlined her second run with a cork 900 Buick grab to qualify for the final in second place and set up another showdown with Gremaud.

At her home Olympics at Beijing 2022, Gu settled for Slopestyle silver just 0.33 points behind Gremaud.

Both women are in the running to become the most bemedaled freestyle skier in Olympic history with three medals apiece so far.

Gu is focusing on the process.

“One of my mantras is I train like I've never won, and I compete like I've never lost. And I think that very much holds true,” said the 22-year-old, the Big Air and Halfpipe champion on her Olympic debut.

Looking ahead to the final, where the best score from three runs wins, Gu added: “Totally new run, so keep an eye out. One word: rails.”

Upgrades ahead

Avery Krumme (USA), who finished just 0.05 adrift of British skier and third-best qualifier Kirsty Muir (64.98 points) with her second run, is also promising something different tomorrow.

"I’m still saving things for the finals, but I did the most I could and I’m really happy with the outcome,” Krumme said after qualification.

Home hope Maria Gasslitter (ITA) squeezed through to the final on the back of her first run (54.66 points) and faced a nervous wait before getting confirmation of her place in the 12-woman final.

Gasslitter can take heart from the knowledge that Gremaud qualified in last place at Beijing 2022. Tomorrow, the Swiss could go ahead in the all-time Olympic Freestyle Skiing standings.

Gremaud is ready for the icing on her cake when the final begins at 12:30 CET tomorrow.

The Slopestyle Crystal Globe leader said: “I have the (2022) title so I'm definitely trying to hold on to it. It's a great feeling. It's motivating to know I achieved one already. Why could I not achieve a second one?”