Swiss skier Mathilde Gremaud eyes Winter Olympics glory fueled by rivalry with Eileen Gu

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Swiss skier Mathilde Gremaud eyes Winter Olympics glory fueled by rivalry with Eileen Gu

2026-02-08 16:27 Last Updated At：02-09 12:39

Swiss skier Mathilde Gremaud, gold medalist in slopestyle and bronze medalist in big air at Beijing 2022, says her expectations for the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics remain high, with fierce competition from rivals such as China's Eileen Gu pushing her to perform at her best.

The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics opened Friday with an unprecedented ceremony staged in two cities - Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. A total of around 2,900 athletes from more than 90 countries and regions will compete in 116 events across eight sports and 16 disciplines, with the Games set to run through Feb 22.

"I mean, I was just super stoked to be here, be healthy, and I had three starts at the Olympic Games and three medals. So my expectations are definitely high. I'm really here to have fun and show my best, and then I think we could have a good ending. And that's really the goal," said Gremaud in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).

One of the standout rivalries at Milan-Cortina 2026 will unfold in the women's freestyle skiing events. Eileen Gu will aim to build on her success from Beijing 2022, where she claimed two gold medals and a silver. The athlete who denied Gu a clean sweep was Gremaud, who captured gold in the slopestyle event.

Gremaud recalled her "great rivalry" with Gu in 2022, and described the competition with her this year as "the biggest battle," where both of them would have to be "on point."

"That was a crazy day for sure, for the both of us. It was really tight results. And I feel like it could have been either or, I mean, the way it was judged, like I got a few little half points more, but it could have been the other way around, I feel like. But we've had great rivalry, for sure, over the years. She hasn't been really on the scene that much since, so it has been hard to compare. But I know she has been working hard, and she has skiing well, and so, it's definitely, I think the biggest battle is definitely between us, but there's a lot of great girls out there as well, and for the battle, to be between us, we also have to be on point the day that it matters. So that's also, personally, something that you have to achieve before talking about battle. So I'm focusing on myself, but I definitely know that when I land my run, when she lands her run, it's going to be tight, and it's going to be a battle, as always," she said.

"For sure, it's pushing me. It's probably getting the best out of me, in a good way, because I cannot just rely on doing it a little bit, and I have to push, and then she has to push, and no one's going to pull on the brake. Everyone's going to just go all in. And that's really cool," said Gremaud.

Lahsa sees booming coffee scene infused with local culture

High in the Himalayas, Lhasa, the capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, has quietly become one of the country's most caffeinated cities, signaling a fresh business wave in this ancient cultural hub.

With more than 800 coffee shops now serving a population of under one million, the city hosts roughly one cafe for every 1,200 residents, giving it one of the highest cafe densities in the country.

But this is not simply a transplant of Western coffee culture. On Barkhor Street in Lhasa's old town, a historic Buddhist pilgrimage circuit, baristas are stirring centuries-old yak cheese into espresso -- a blend that mirrors the city's transformation from a spiritual center into a modern regional hub.

"We have got this great Xizang-style vibe. There are plenty of cafes in Lhasa, but we are special. Locals -- even 80-year-olds -- come here for Americanos. Plus, lots of tourists, including foreigners, come just to check us out," the owner of Senxia Coffee, a local hotspot, said, revealing the secret behind his cafe's pull.

That dedication to innovation and presenting Xizang's culture through every cup have earned the shop a loyal following.

"I make a trip here once a year. It is my fourth year coming. The taste never changes, but they always have a new special to try -- and it is always great!" said a tourist from the eastern municipality Tianjin.

"It's very unique, I like it a lot. It's good coffee and it's a very nice place. The courtyard here is different than a courtyard in Germany would be," a German tourist offered similar praise.

In 2025, Lhasa's GDP crossed the 100-billion-yuan (about 14.7 billion US dollars) mark creating fertile ground for entrepreneurs, who found coffee as a light-asset business easy to start with -- small footprint, fast setup, easy to brand.

Amid intense competitions, businesses loyal to their hometown and home culture wins, Senxia's owner said.

"There are tons of entrepreneurs here. Local college grads are coming back to start businesses, and friends from inland are moving here to do the same. So the competition is actually fierce. With so many cafes around, we feel pretty lucky to have made it, and we have definitely got our own unique vibe," he said.