Oldham Strikes Gold in Big Air, Defeats Gu at Milano-Cortina Olympics
LIVIGNO, Italy – Canada’s Megan Oldham soared to victory in the women’s freeski big air final at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics on , securing the gold medal with a combined score of 180.75 points. The 24-year-old edged out defending Olympic champion Eileen Gu of China, who finished with 179 points, and Italy’s Flora Tabanelli, who took bronze.
This marks Oldham’s second medal of the Games, adding to the bronze she won in women’s slopestyle on . She becomes the third Canadian athlete to achieve multiple medals at these Olympics, joining Mikaël Kingsbury (dual moguls gold, moguls silver) and short track speed skater Courtney Sarault (2,000m mixed relay silver, 1,000 silver, 500 bronze).
Oldham’s triumph comes after a fourth-place finish in big air and a 13th-place result in slopestyle at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Reflecting on those past results, Oldham recently stated she felt she had more to offer, a sentiment clearly realized on Monday. “I definitely felt like I left that Games a bit hungry to show more at this next Games,” she said.
The Canadian skier consistently delivered strong performances throughout the final, landing her two best jumps to secure the top spot. She had a fall on her final jump, but the gold was already secured. The victory was sealed with a warm embrace between Oldham and Gu before the medal ceremony.
The competition wasn’t without its challenges. Prior to the final, the field was reduced to 10 after Mathilde Gremaud and Anouk Andraska, both of Switzerland, sustained injuries during practice. Gremaud, the defending slopestyle gold medalist, suffered a hip injury and required assistance off the course, while Andraska injured her wrist.
The final was delayed by over an hour due to a snowstorm, adding to the tension and anticipation. Despite the conditions, Oldham remained focused, executing her jumps with precision and skill.
Gu, who had focused on other events since her big air triumph in Beijing, demonstrated her versatility by earning silver. She also secured a silver medal in slopestyle at these Games and will have another opportunity to add to her medal count in the halfpipe competition on .
Naomi Urness also competed for Canada, finishing sixth in her Olympic debut. Urness qualified for the final in seventh place.
Oldham’s gold medal contributes to Canada’s overall medal count, which currently stands at 11. This victory underscores Canada’s strength in freestyle skiing and solidifies Oldham’s position as a leading athlete in the sport. Her performance in Italy represents a significant milestone in her career and a moment of pride for Canadian winter sports.
Tabanelli’s bronze medal was particularly noteworthy, coming just four months after she tore her ACL. Her resilience and determination were evident as she delivered a strong performance despite the recent injury.
In big air, skiers are judged on both the difficulty and execution of their jumps, with the top two scores from three attempts determining the final result. Oldham’s consistent performance across her first two jumps proved to be the difference, showcasing her ability to perform under pressure and secure the coveted gold medal.
