OLYMPICS: Freestyle-Canada's Oldham pips Gu to take gold in women's big air

LIVIGNO, ITALY – Canada’s Megan Oldham captured the women’s freestyle big air gold at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics on Monday, narrowly beating China’s Eileen Gu and Italy’s Flora Tabanelli in a thrilling final. Oldham’s victory is especially remarkable after recovering from an injury just three months ago.

Gu, the defending champion and one of the Games’ most high-profile athletes, settled for silver, while home favorite Tabanelli claimed bronze in front of an enthusiastic Livigno crowd.

The competition used the best two scores out of three jumps to determine the winner. Oldham finished with a combined score of 180.75, edging out Gu’s 179.00 and Tabanelli’s 178.25.

At 24, Oldham entered the final having topped the qualifiers and fresh off a slopestyle bronze a week earlier. “I’m on cloud nine right now. I’m still processing everything. I don’t think the emotion has fully hit me yet, but I’m so happy,” she said, dedicating her win to her brother Cody, who turned 18 on Monday.

Oldham had suffered a concussion in November while practicing new tricks in Switzerland, keeping her off the slopes for six weeks—a period she described as “really tough.”

Second Silver for Eileen Gu

For American-born Gu, Monday marked her second silver of these Games, following her runner-up finish in slopestyle. The medal brings her Olympic career total to five, a record in women’s freestyle skiing.

Asked about missing gold twice, Gu dismissed the thought as a “ridiculous perspective,” saying she is now focusing on the halfpipe final later this week for another shot at gold.

Home Favorite Tabanelli Shines Despite Injury

Italy’s 18-year-old Tabanelli, the youngest finalist and reigning freestyle world champion, impressed by claiming bronze despite riding with a carbon knee brace after tearing a ligament in November. She still requires surgery to regain full fitness but credited her brother Miro, who narrowly missed the men’s big air final on Sunday, for his unwavering support.

Blizzard and Swiss Contender Crash

Monday’s final faced a delay of over an hour due to a snow blizzard. Big air skiing involves launching off jumps while performing flips and twists at speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour, with judges scoring on height, technique, and originality.

One top medal contender, Switzerland’s Mathilde Gremaud, crashed during a practice run and withdrew at the last minute. She was taken to the hospital for observation after a hard hit to her hip.

-Reporting by Lisa Richwine and Alvise Armellini; Editing by Christian Radnedge and Ken Ferris/Reuters