Struggle makes success all the more satisfying for Winter X Games 2023 freestyle skiing medal favourite Ailing (Eileen) Gu.
At the age of 18, the People’s Republic of China athlete became the youngest freeski Olympic champion ever with big air and halfpipe gold medals - all on her Winter Olympic debut at Beijing 2022.
Even for a two-time Winter Youth Olympic Games champion, it was a feat that few would have predicted so soon in her career.
“Achieving the impossible has always been something that has drawn me in,” Gu told Olympics.com.
“For one, achieving something that you've dreamed of, that you've worked towards, that you've struggled for, that you've fallen for and then gotten up and laughed through, for years and years and years, I think it’s an incredible honour and an indescribable feeling. So first, I just want to take a moment to, I guess, celebrate that for myself.”
“In retrospect, I'm really grateful for all the hours that I put in and all the lessons that I did learn along the way. My life changed.”
Ailing (Eileen) Gu seals victory in World Cup return
Ailing (Eileen) Gu: "My mission is to use sport as a force for unity"
Gu was born in California and represented the USA before switching allegiances to her mother’s homeland China in 2019.
The winter sports prodigy, student, and part-time model is bi-lingual, and those heroics in Beijing saw her profile boom globally.
This also places Gu in a unique position where she can use her platform and achievements to inspire a far greater number of people, across different cultures.
“I think that for the most part, my world view has expanded a lot, and after becoming an Olympic champion, it has made me appreciate the power of sport,” she continued.
“There was a huge impact after the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in the rise of winter sports and especially in free skiing, which has been a huge honour for me to witness and to hopefully have played a little bit of a part in.
“But beyond simply doing flips, I think it has shown me its capacity to unite people and to bring people together all over the world. It has a very unique capacity in that sense which I recognise and really celebrate."
Ailing 'Eileen' Gu's impressive World Cup return
Following Beijing 2022, Gu took a break from competition in order to begin her studies at Stanford University, including a class in quantum physics.
However, she returned to competition with a bang on 19 January 2023, with a halfpipe victory at the World Cup in Calgary, Canada.
Achievements like this continue to astound the world of sport, and help explain why legions of youngsters queue for selfies with her at events.
“My whole life, I've been very outspoken about sport, using sport as a method to create inter communication between different nations and cultures, as a way to break human boundaries, to foster resilience and communities, to enjoy the beautiful outdoors, and to do things that you never thought were possible for yourself,” she said.
Ailing 'Eileen' Gu on female empowerment
In addition to being a once-in-a-generation athlete, Gu is really set apart by her desire to inspire.
As a 12-year-old she gave a speech at school about equality for female athletes, and would often be the only female freeskier in a resort.
Subsequently, empowerment remains a key priority for her today.
“I have always strove to introduce more girls to sports, especially to action sports,” she continued.
“I hope that when girls see me skiing at the Olympics or elsewhere that they feel inspired to go out there and try it for themselves, maybe with their friends and the community that they come from.
“I think that representation makes you feel as though you are capable of the same things.
“I've been trying my best to use my voice as best that I can and I'm excited to continue using it going forward.”
The X Games 2023 take place 27-29 January in Aspen, Colorado, and you can read our full preview here.
