Olympic freestyle skiing star Eileen Gu delivered an emotional press conference after revealing she had learned of her grandmother’s death shortly after securing gold in the women’s halfpipe.
Gu, 22, who competes for China, arrived late to speak with reporters and explained the reason through tears. “The reason I was late is that I just found out that my grandma passed away,” she said, describing her grandmother as a central figure in her upbringing.
Raised primarily by her mother and maternal grandmother in San Francisco, Gu said the loss was deeply personal. She shared that her grandmother had been seriously ill before the Winter Olympics, adding that the news was not entirely unexpected but still difficult to process.
Despite the grief, Gu had just made history, becoming the most decorated freeskier of all time with her latest gold medal performance. She told reporters she had promised her grandmother not victory, but courage. “I promised her that I was going to be brave… and hopefully do her proud,” Gu said.
Sports psychologists note that elite athletes often compete while managing profound personal pressures, underscoring the emotional complexity behind podium moments. Online, fans and fellow athletes have flooded social media with messages of support.
Gu said she is grateful for the achievement but acknowledged it is “a really difficult time,” highlighting the human story behind Olympic success.