Gremaud pips Gu to Slopestyle gold to retain Olympic title

Mathilde Gremaud (SUI) celebrated becoming the first back-to-back Olympic Slopestyle champion on Monday by taking a victory run with the Swiss flag draped over like a cape.

And it was perhaps fitting that she flew through the air like Superwoman, after a heroic second run sealed the gold medal with 86.96 points.

Gremaud, who turned 26 on Sunday, said of retaining her title: "It's a lot of work. It's a lot of support. And obviously it takes a lot, that it works on the day."

Eileen Gu (CHN) had thrown down the gauntlet in the Women’s Slopestyle final at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 with her first run (86.58 points), displaying her strength on the rails by opening with 270-on before moving to a 450-on.

Next to drop at Livigno Snow Park, Gremaud responded with strong jumps, culminating in a nosebutter double cork 1260 — the first time a woman skier landed that in competition. But the 83.60-point effort was not good enough to overtake Gu, seeking an elusive Olympic Slopestyle title to add to her Big Air and Halfpipe golds from Beijing 2022.

Gremaud’s second run, however, put the pressure back on Gu.

Gremaud upped her rails game and finished with a double cork 1260 to go ahead by just 0.38 points, four years after a difference of 0.33 points separated them at Beijing 2022.

And when Gu faltered at the first rail on her third run, as she did on her second attempt, Gremaud sealed victory.

Bronze for Oldham

Megan Oldham (CAN), third in this season’s Slopestyle Crystal Globe race, took a big hit in round two. But she got back up to score 76.46 points on her third run, bettering her first run score of 69.76 points that had her in provisional third place to cement bronze.

"I can't even believe it, it's crazy,” she said. “I've been dreaming about this for so long, so it really means a lot to me. It takes so much, honestly, and there's a lot that people don't see. I mean, you're trying these really hard tricks. I've been hurt a lot of times."

Kirsty Muir (GBR) just missed out on a medal despite ending her campaign with a double cork 1440, the biggest trick of the day, to finish with 76.05 points.

Into the record books

Gu consolidated her lead in the all-time women’s Olympic Freestyle Skiing medal standings, improving to two gold and two silvers with two more events to come at these Games.

Gremaud is right behind her on two golds, one silver and one bronze, with both women set to renew their rivalry when Big Air qualification begins on 14 February.

Gu brought the best Slopestyle skiing out of Gremaud.

The Swiss said: "Eileen tried to come for me all the time, and I had to really focus on myself so that she couldn't get to me.

"It was a crazy ride.

Reflecting on where she dropped points today, Gu said: “I had some speed and angle things. I actually learned that trick last week. So to be doing it on the biggest feature in the course, I'm just really happy to be trying.

"There's a lot to learn and a lot to move forward with. I feel more motivated than ever and looking forward to the next one."