China's freeski sensation in determined mood ahead of triple-medal bid

Gu Ailing is remaining single-minded in her triple medal bid at Beijing 2022.

Going for a first ever sweep of the Big Air, halfpipe and slopestyle Olympic golds, China's freestyle skiing sensation insists her focus is simple and clear－beating her own best.

Gu will launch her campaign on Monday in the women's qualification round of freeski Big Air's Olympic debut at western Beijing's Shougang Industrial Park.

As the reigning world champion in halfpipe and slopestyle and the bronze medalist in Big Air, the triple-gold target looks to be within her reach, but will require that she stomps all her tricks to the same high standards that she managed on this season's World Cup circuit and at the X Games.

"Every time I approach a run, my goal is always to do the best I can," the 18-year-old Gu, known as Eileen in the United States where she was born, said in fluent Chinese after Sunday's training session.

"Being able to compete at the Olympics is already a dream come true. With so many fans supporting me and youngsters getting interested in the sport because of me, I feel like that's already the best reward for me, so I won't feel much pressure going into the qualifying runs."

Gu won a Big Air World Cup title at Steamboat, Colorado, this season, but is more strongly favored in the halfpipe at Beijing 2022, having triumphed in all four of the discipline's World Cup legs in the buildup to the Games.

Gu's chance of winning a third medal on slopestyle's obstacle course will be challenged by Estonian prodigy Kelly Sildaru, who beat Gu to gold at the 2020 Youth Winter Olympics in Switzerland.

Sildaru is also going for podium finishes in all three events in Beijing. A year older than Gu at 19, she is also renowned for her versatility, having achieved podium finishes in all three freeski events at the 2019 X Games.