In a thrilling showdown at the Milan Cortina Games, Canada’s Megan Oldham secured the gold medal in the freestyle big air event on February 12, 2024. Oldham achieved a combined score of 180.75 points from two jumps, narrowly outpacing defending Olympic champion Eileen Gu of the United States, who earned silver with a score of 179 points. Italy’s Flora Tabanelli completed the podium by taking bronze, remarkably bouncing back from a torn ACL just four months prior.
This victory marked the second medal for the 24-year-old Oldham at these Winter Games; she previously won bronze in the slopestyle event last week. Her performance in big air highlighted her skill and determination, as she locked in her gold medal with her first two jumps, even after a fall on her final attempt, which became a celebratory moment rather than a setback.
Gu’s Impressive Track Record and Future Prospects
At just 18 years old during the previous Winter Olympics in 2022, Eileen Gu made history by becoming the first freestyle skier to win three medals in a single Games, with gold in big air and halfpipe and silver in slopestyle. Competing for her mother’s native China, Gu has amassed a total of five Olympic medals over her two appearances, adding to her impressive legacy in the sport. Last week, she also secured silver in slopestyle and is poised to contend for a sixth medal in the halfpipe event scheduled for Saturday.
Despite her absence from big air competitions since her triumph in Beijing, Gu adapted quickly, leveraging the similarities between big air and slopestyle to regain her rhythm. The competition itself faced delays due to a snowstorm, which pushed back the final by over an hour. The initial field of 12 athletes was reduced by two after Mathilde Gremaud and Anouk Andraska from Switzerland suffered injuries during practice. Gremaud, who defended her slopestyle gold last week, was carted off with a hip injury, while Andraska sustained a wrist injury.
The Future of Freestyle Skiing
In this high-pressure environment, athletes are required to execute two successful jumps out of three, earning scores based on difficulty and execution. Oldham’s strong performance not only underscores her talent but also highlights the rising competitiveness in women’s freestyle skiing. The embrace shared by Oldham and Gu before stepping onto the medal podium encapsulated the sportsmanship and mutual respect that defines this event.
As the Games continue, both Oldham and Gu’s performances have set the stage for an exciting conclusion to the freestyle skiing events. With Gu aiming to defend her halfpipe title and Oldham looking to build on her success, the coming days promise to deliver more memorable moments in Olympic sports.
