Olympics Announces Historic News After Eileen Gu Misses Out on Gold

Gu finished second in the big air qualifying round on Saturday. She tallied 170.75 points, which was just one point behind Canada’s Megan Oldham’s record-setting score of 171.75.

Oldham was dominant again in the final on Monday. After finishing bronze behind Gu in the slopestyle event, it was the Canadian’s turn to take center stage in the big air final. Her final score of 180.75 edged out Gu, who finished with a tally of 179.0.

Gu scored a 90.0 and a 61.25 in her first two runs. She came up big in her third and final run to score an 89.0. It wasn’t enough to surpass Oldham, though, who was able to make history with her gold medal victory.

The Olympics took to social media to announce Olham’s historic milestone after the big air competition.

“Congratulations, Megan! The freestyle skier has clinched Canada’s first-ever Olympic medal in women’s freeski Big Air! ” the Olympics posted on Instagram.

This is Oldham’s second Olympics after also competing in Beijing in 2022. Oldham failed to medal four years ago, though. She now has two under her belt, including Canada’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the big air competition.   

Gu made her own bit of history after her second-place finish. She now stands alone as the most decorated freestyle skier with five Olympic medals.

Gu can make it six in her next event. She is competing in halfpipe, her preferred discipline, where she will look to defend her gold medal from Beijing. The halfpipe qualifying is on Thursday, while the final is scheduled on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET.