Eileen Gu Takes Silver in Big Air as Canada’s Megan Oldham Wins Olympic Gold in Stunning Freestyle Showcase

February 17, 2026

Eileen Gu Takes Silver in Big Air as Canada’s Megan Oldham Wins Olympic Gold in Stunning Freestyle Showcase

The Beijing Winter Games delivered another seismic moment in freestyle skiing today, culminating in a heart-stopping Big Air final. While all eyes were fixed on teenage sensation Eileen Gu, it was Canada’s formidable Megan Oldham who claimed the coveted Olympic gold medal, executing a flawless performance that solidified her status as the world’s elite Big Air specialist.

Eileen Gu, competing for China, put up a spectacular fight but ultimately had to settle for the silver medal, marking one of the most significant upsets in the women's freestyle events. The atmosphere at the Shougang Big Air venue was electric, confirming this event as a true global sporting spectacle.

For those of us watching the early rounds, the tension was palpable. The sheer magnitude of the expectation placed upon Gu—the global icon, the face of the Games—meant every run was scrutinized. But today, the technical supremacy belonged squarely to the Canadian contingent.

This result reshapes the podium narrative and provides a crucial reminder: in the high-stakes, high-risk world of Olympic freestyle skiing, even the biggest favorite can be outmaneuvered by raw, technical precision.

The Battle of Beijing 2022: Setting the Stage for Big Air Brilliance

The women's Big Air final was anticipated to be a showdown between the youth and dynamism of Eileen Gu and the battle-hardened consistency of veterans like Oldham. Heading into the final, the qualification rounds had already hinted at the extraordinarily high bar for technical difficulty.

Eileen Gu, known for her dual eligibility and massive commercial appeal, carried the hopes of millions. Her presence alone elevates the exposure of women's freestyle skiing exponentially. However, Big Air requires two distinctly different, massive tricks, demanding both amplitude and rotation.

Megan Oldham, hailing from Ontario, Canada, arrived in Beijing having demonstrated consistent success in X Games and World Cup events. While perhaps lacking Gu’s universal recognition, she was statistically one of the most technically proficient athletes in the field, especially regarding switch stance tricks and complex rotations.

The format required athletes to complete three jumps, with the scores from the best two unique tricks counting toward the final total. A minor slip on a landing or a slight hand drag could mean the difference between the podium and fifth place.

Key athletes vying for the medals included:

Megan Oldham (Canada): Known for massive air and clean landings.
Eileen Gu (China): The favorite, showcasing versatility across all park disciplines.
Tess Ledeux (France): A powerhouse and Oldham’s strongest rival in technical execution.
Mathilde Gremaud (Switzerland): Always a threat, known for immense spin speed.

The early runs saw athletes struggle slightly with the tricky crosswinds, putting added pressure on execution. This set the stage for Oldham to truly shine, utilizing her mastery of aerial control under pressure.

Oldham’s Golden Runs: Technical Mastery and Flawless Execution

The turning point in the competition came during Oldham’s first two jumps, where she established an untouchable lead based on technical score and execution quality. She chose high-scoring, high-risk maneuvers and stuck them perfectly, minimizing deductions.

In her first run, Oldham launched a stunning Switch Double Cork 1260 mute grab. This trick, performed cleanly off the massive ramp, immediately put her at the top of the leaderboard with an exceptional score above 92 points. This trick demonstrated not only guts but immense control flying backwards.

Her second run was equally masterful. She followed up with a spectacular Double Cork 1440. This move—involving four full rotations—is considered the peak of technical difficulty in women’s Big Air. Landing it cleanly cemented her dominance. The combined score from these two disparate, flawless jumps gave her a substantial buffer that the rest of the field struggled to overcome.

Meanwhile, Eileen Gu struggled slightly with her trick selection and execution in the middle rounds. While her ambition was evident, aiming for equally complex spins, minor issues in her grab holds and slightly bobbled landings kept her scores just below Oldham’s pristine marks. Gu ultimately executed a brilliant Double Cork 1080 and a powerful Switch 900, fantastic jumps by any standard, but just shy of the gold medal precision.

The tension peaked during the third run. Gu needed a perfect, groundbreaking jump—perhaps an unlanded 1620—to catch Oldham. While she attacked the jump with characteristic aggression, the sheer difficulty coupled with the pressure meant the landing was not enough to surpass the Canadian’s commanding lead.

The final scores confirmed the results, prompting roaring cheers from the Canadian delegation:

**Gold:** Megan Oldham (Canada) - Total Score: 184.50
**Silver:** Eileen Gu (China) - Total Score: 181.00
**Bronze:** Tess Ledeux (France) - Total Score: 178.25

Oldham’s performance was a textbook example of utilizing consistent technical skill to secure an Olympic title. She didn't rely on a single, massive gamble, but rather two perfectly executed world-class jumps.

The Significance of Silver: Gu’s Legacy Continues and the Rise of Canadian Freestyle

While Eileen Gu’s silver medal might feel like a minor disappointment to some who expected her to sweep the Games, it remains an incredible achievement. Securing a podium finish in Big Air—a discipline she often views as secondary to her focus on Slopestyle and Halfpipe—demonstrates her unparalleled versatility in freestyle skiing.

Gu immediately congratulated Oldham, showcasing the sportsmanship that defines these elite athletes. Her performance here, coupled with her subsequent medal haul, confirms her position as one of the most important figures in Winter Olympic history, regardless of the color of this specific medal.

For Canada, this gold medal underscores their nation’s continued dominance in high-level freestyle skiing. Megan Oldham’s triumph adds to a rich history of Canadian success on the slopes, proving that their pipeline of talent remains robust. Oldham's powerful, decisive skiing is a fantastic advertisement for the sport.

In her post-event interview, Oldham spoke of the intense focus required:

"I knew the bar was incredibly high. Facing competitors like Eileen and Tess forces you to be absolutely perfect. I just focused on sticking those two tricks I’ve drilled hundreds of times. To see those scores come up... it’s surreal. This is truly the pinnacle of my career."

The level of competition witnessed today ensures that women’s Big Air will be a must-watch event for years to come. The athletes are pushing the boundaries of what is physically possible, regularly throwing 1260s and 1440s—rotations that were once strictly the domain of men's competition.

This silver for Eileen Gu and the glorious gold for Megan Oldham will be remembered as the event that defined competitive excellence at the Beijing Winter Games. It was a day where the pressure was high, the stakes were higher, and the deserving athlete delivered two unforgettable, golden runs.

The focus now shifts to the Slopestyle and Halfpipe events, where Gu will undoubtedly be aiming to reclaim the top spot, but for today, the spotlight belongs entirely to Canada's newest Olympic champion, Megan Oldham.

Eileen Gu takes silver in big air as Canada’s Megan Oldham wins Olympic gold

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