China’s Gu Ailing soared to victory in the women’s slopestyle final at the FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup in Laax, Switzerland, on Friday. In her season debut, Gu impressed the crowd with a top score of 81.22 points, securing the gold medal.
Canada’s Megan Oldham claimed the silver with a score of 72.80, while Switzerland’s own Mathilde Gremaud took bronze with 72.59 points.
This win marks a significant step for Gu as she aims to compete in all three freeski park and pipe events—slopestyle, halfpipe, and big air—at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Under the current Olympic qualification system, slopestyle and big air are combined into a single discipline, meaning athletes can secure only one quota spot for their National or Regional Olympic Committee across both events.
“I’m thrilled to start the season with a win,” Gu said after the event. “It’s a big confidence boost as I work towards my goal of full participation in every freeski discipline at the next Winter Olympics.”
Olympic qualification is determined based on athletes’ best results in World Cup competitions and the 2025 World Championships. With this victory, Gu has positioned herself strongly on the road to Milan-Cortina 2026.
Reference(s):
Gu Ailing wins gold in her 2024-25 season World Cup slopestyle debut
cgtn.com
