Imagine being one of the most celebrated athletes at the Olympics, only to be told that your ambition to excel in multiple events is being penalized. That’s exactly what Eileen Gu, the 22-year-old freestyle skiing phenom, is facing at the Milan Cortina Games. After securing her spot in the big air final, Gu expressed deep disappointment that organizers wouldn’t adjust her schedule to allow her the same training opportunities as her competitors in the halfpipe event—her third and final challenge. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) punishing excellence by refusing to accommodate athletes who dare to push boundaries? And this is the part most people miss—Gu isn’t asking for special treatment; she simply wants the same practice time as everyone else. She even proposed compromises, like joining snowboarders’ training sessions, but FIS stood firm, citing fairness to other athletes.
Gu, who already won silver in slopestyle earlier in the week, is the only female freeskier competing in all three disciplines: slopestyle, halfpipe, and big air. Her packed schedule is a logistical nightmare—the big air final on Monday overlaps with the first of three halfpipe training sessions scheduled for later in the week. “I’m disappointed in FIS,” Gu told reporters. “The Olympics should celebrate aspiration, not penalize it.”
FIS spokesman Bruno Sassi countered that “every effort has been made to facilitate the best possible training,” but acknowledged that conflicts are inevitable for athletes competing in multiple events. Yet, this raises a bigger question: Should the Olympics, a stage for extraordinary feats, be more flexible for athletes like Gu who embody the spirit of pushing limits?
This isn’t the first time scheduling conflicts have impacted multi-discipline athletes. Earlier in the Games, Ester Ledecka had to choose between defending her snowboard title and competing in her favorite skiing event, the downhill. She chose snowboarding but ultimately finished fifth, while crashing out of the super-G.
Gu, who was born in the United States but competes for China, hasn’t skied in a halfpipe since a World Cup event in December. Despite this, she’s a dominant force in the discipline, with 15 of her 20 World Cup victories coming from halfpipe. “Halfpipe is an entirely different event,” she explained. “It’s like comparing sprinting to a marathon—both involve running, but they’re completely different sports.”
At the last Olympics, Gu managed to juggle her schedule, even grabbing a chive pancake between events. This time, however, the stakes feel higher. After a near-miss in big air qualifying, where she turned her final jump into an all-or-nothing moment, Gu proved she still has the skills. “I still know how to ski,” she said confidently. “I’m not thinking about medals; I’m focused on the challenge.”
But her schedule remains a hurdle. After Monday’s big air final, she’ll have just days to prepare for the halfpipe qualifiers on Thursday and the final on Saturday. “It’s really unfair,” Gu said. “It’s punishing excellence. Because I dare to do three events, they’re making it impossible to train fairly for the third.”
Here’s the bold question: Should Olympic organizers prioritize fairness for all athletes, even if it means limiting the ambitions of those who strive for more? Or should they find ways to celebrate and support athletes like Gu who push the boundaries of what’s possible? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments—is FIS right to maintain a strict schedule, or should they make exceptions for athletes like Gu? The debate is open!
