Chinese freestyle skiing has a name and a youthful face: that of Eileen Gu.
Or Ailing, whatever.
At only 18 years old, the young Chinese-American embodies these Olympic Games in Beijing.
After her gold medal in big air ahead of the French Tess Ledeux, and her silver medal in slopestyle, the fabulous skier was crowned Olympic champion in the halfpipe last night, crushing the competition with a masterful hand.
A daunting performance that enabled her to become the first athlete to win two gold medals in freestyle skiing since the appearance of the discipline at the 1992 Olympics. “I'm exhausted, but so happy.
I have just had the best two weeks of my life,” enthused the young champion.
China is on fire for the child prodigy
Inevitably, his performances put China at his feet.
And the young woman became a prophet in her country.
His three outings are those where there was the most atmosphere in the public during these Games.
This Friday morning, after her title in the halfpipe, the young woman spent almost an hour and a half in front of the conquered media.
And as soon as we turn on the television, Gu is present in all the commercials for almost all the partners of the Olympics or others.
In Beijing, his face is plastered on storefronts or on subway stops.
She was even placed among “the 30 most important personalities under 30”, in the ranking of Forbes China.
After his title in the big air final, the very nationalist Global Time had mentioned the child prodigy, explaining that it was the "reflect of the country's openness".
However, she could have competed for a completely different country.
Born in California to an American father and a Chinese mother, Eileen Gu decided to wear the colors of China.
"Being able to inspire millions of young people where my mother was born [...] is a unique opportunity to help promote the sport that I love", she explained on her Instagram account to justify her "incredibly difficult" choice. .
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A post shared by Eileen Gu 🖤🌈🧊🐲 (@eileen_gu_)
And since she declared her love for the Middle Kingdom, the skier has signed several sponsorship contracts with major brands such as China Mobile or the clothing brand, Anta Sports.
An already impressive track record
Obviously with such enthusiasm, Eileen Gu had to succeed in her Games.
And it's done.
With three medals, including two in gold, the "snow princess", as she is nicknamed in China, left her mark on Beijing, being propelled as the queen of these Olympics.
“I feel tremendous gratitude and a sense of accomplishment after years and years of hard work.
It's like taking a deep breath of fresh air,” she explained.
And his track record doesn't stop there.
She has already won the little crystal globe in the halfpipe this winter.
She also won five of the six World Cup events she contested this winter (four in the halfpipe, one in the big air) and allowed herself the luxury of becoming the first woman to achieve a double cork 1440 (a jump with four 360 degree rotations).
While she is only at the beginning of her career, the Chinese-American is already an accomplished skier.
But she will have to keep a cool head for the post-Beijing period.
Do not let yourself be overwhelmed by the media whirlwind and the ambient pressure.
Because, we know, we are not serious when we are 18 years old.
