Mathilde Gremaud Defends Slopestyle Crown in Thrilling Olympic Rematch Against Eileen Gu

Defending champion Mathilde Gremaud got the better of Eileen Gu in a breathtaking women's freeski slopestyle final at Milano Cortina 2026 on Monday, February 9, claiming gold with a score of 86.96 in her second run. China's superstar Gu finished with silver after posting 86.58 in her opening run, falling just 0.38 points short of the top spot. Canada's Megan Oldham rounded out the podium with bronze, scoring 76.46 in a competitive field that included 17-year-old American hopeful Avery Krumme. The final represented a rematch of the Beijing 2022 Olympic final, where Gremaud had similarly edged Gu by the slimmest of margins—just 0.33 points. This time, the Swiss athlete needed to respond after Gu set the benchmark with her impressive first run. Gremaud rose to the challenge in her second attempt, executing a near-flawless run down the slopestyle course to post the winning score. The razor-thin margin once again highlighted the incredible consistency and skill level at the top of women's freeski slopestyle. For Gremaud, the victory marks her second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the discipline, cementing her status as one of the sport's all-time greats. The 25-year-old Swiss athlete has now beaten Gu in both of their Olympic final matchups, establishing a remarkable head-to-head record in the sport's biggest moments. Her ability to perform under pressure, particularly when responding to Gu's strong opening runs, has become a hallmark of her championship pedigree. Eileen Gu, competing for China, delivered another exceptional performance despite falling short of gold. The 20-year-old remains one of freestyle skiing's brightest stars and showed tremendous composure throughout the competition. Her opening run score of 86.58 demonstrated the technical mastery and amplitude that has made her a fan favorite and one of the sport's most marketable athletes. While silver may have been disappointing for Gu, who won two golds and a silver at Beijing 2022, her consistency at the Olympic level remains undeniable. Canada's Megan Oldham secured her first Olympic medal with a clutch performance that earned her bronze. The 24-year-old Canadian put together a solid run that held up against a deep field of competitors, providing Canada with another freestyle skiing medal at Milano Cortina. Oldham's bronze added to Canada's growing medal tally and highlighted the depth of talent in women's freeski slopestyle. American Avery Krumme, the 17-year-old who qualified fourth for the final, represented the next generation of slopestyle talent but couldn't quite crack the podium in her Olympic debut. The women's freeski slopestyle final delivered another chapter in one of winter sports' most compelling rivalries, with Gremaud and Gu pushing each other to new heights. The event showcased the evolution of the discipline, with athletes throwing increasingly technical tricks while maintaining the style and fluidity that defines slopestyle skiing. With both athletes likely to continue competing at the highest level, their rivalry promises to remain one of the marquee storylines in freestyle skiing for years to come.