LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — The first thing Eileen Gu thought when she hit the bottom of the halfpipe halfway through her run Thursday night: “Of course this would happen right now,” she said.
In a remarkable show of Olympic consistency, Gu’s fall in qualifying made her 3 for 3 at the Games: That's three events, three falls in qualifying, three clutch comebacks to secure her spot in the final.
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China's Eileen Gu competes during the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe qualifications at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
China's Eileen Gu crashes during the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe qualifications at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
China's Eileen Gu crashes during the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe qualifications at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
China's Eileen Gu celebrates during the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe qualifications at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
China's Eileen Gu reacts during the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe qualifications at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Next, she gets to go for her third medal, and sixth over the span of two Olympics. She's looking to defend her title in halfpipe after taking silver in slopestyle and big air following equally drama-rich affairs in both of those qualifying rounds.
“I wish I knew,” she said when asked why this keeps happening. “It’s like, why do I keep doing this? I want to get to the bottom of this, but ideally, not experimentally.“
The trick the 22-year-old freeskier fell on was a 720-degree spin that started with a right-side turn down the mountain. It's a jump she can do in her sleep, one part of the “B” material she pulls out for qualifying rounds.
But this time, Gu — born in America but competing for her mother's homeland of China — clipped the top of the halfpipe. Her left ski popped off and she slid down to the bottom.
After retrieving the ski and making it to the bottom of the hill, she looked into the camera peering into the Kiss and Cry zone and said “The qualies curse.“
Later, she conceded she lacked a killer instinct as she revved up for the start of her third event in 13 days — the only skier in the 21-woman field attempting that sort of schedule.
She turned it around moments before dropping in for the decisive run.
“I needed to become the hunter, not the prey, if that makes sense,” Gu said.
Working the same tricks as she did on her first try, Gu’s ski actually caught the side of the halfpipe on the same trick in the second run, but that didn’t create a wreck.
She ended up qualifying fifth, which means she’ll drop in the middle of the pack on Saturday, where she'll compete for the final Olympic medals being awarded at the Livigno Snow Park.
One challenger will be Canada's Amy Fraser, the only skier to beat Gu in a major contest since Gu won the Olympic gold in 2022.
The strongest challenge could very well come from Zoe Atkin, an American-born skier who competes for Britain and finished first in qualifying with none of the drama Gu delivered.
“I was definitely super-nervous,” Atkin said. “I definitely feel like qualifying is sometimes more nerve-wracking than finals.”
She should talk.
Way back on Feb. 7, Gu opened her Olympics by falling off the very first rail in the very first run of the slopestyle qualifying. She came back an hour later and put down a strong run, saying she would've bet it all on herself to come through.
On Feb. 14, Gu bit it on second jump in big air qualifying, turning her last try into an all-or-nothing affair.
Because she landed it, she got to the final where she won her second silver medal. It also cost her a day of training in the halfpipe for an event she hadn't been near in more than two months.
On Saturday, she'll be in a three-run final, which will make it 16 trips down the mountain over 15 days.
“I'm just trying to hold on at this point,” Gu said. “I'm exhausted, and the thing is, no judge is going to give me extra points for being good at rails (in slopestyle), and no judge is giving me extra points because I missed a training.”
Win or lose Saturday, she knows what her next move will be.
“Tang ping,” she said. That's a Chinese phrase for “lie flat.”
AP Sports Writer Joseph Wilson contributed.
AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
China's Eileen Gu competes during the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe qualifications at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
China's Eileen Gu crashes during the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe qualifications at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
China's Eileen Gu crashes during the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe qualifications at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
China's Eileen Gu celebrates during the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe qualifications at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
China's Eileen Gu reacts during the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe qualifications at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
MILAN (AP) — Megan Keller backhanded in a shot 4:07 into overtime and the United States won its third Olympic gold medal in women's hockey, beating Canada 2-1 at the Milan Cortina Games on Thursday night to close another thrilling chapter of one of sports' most heated rivalries.
American captain Hilary Knight, in her fifth and final Olympics, forced overtime by tipping in Laila Edwards’ shot from the blue line with 2:04 remaining. The goal was the 15th of her Olympic career and 33rd point to break the U.S. record in both categories.
With the sides playing 3-on-3, Keller broke up the left wing and pushed past Claire Thompson. Driving to the net, the U.S. assistant captain got off a backhander that beat Ann-Renee Desbiens over her right pad.
“I’m lost for words,” Keller said. “This is an incredible feeling. I love these girls so much. This group deserves it. Just the effort and the faith that we kept through this four-year journey is something very special.”
The U.S. previously won gold at the 1998 Nagano Games, the first to feature women’s hockey, and in 2018 in Pyeongchang. Canada, which won the other five gold medals, settled for its third silver.
Aerin Frankel stopped 30 shots for the U.S.
Kristen O'Neill scored a short-handed goal for Canada and Desbiens finished with 31 saves.
This was the seventh of 12 Olympic meetings between the rivals to be decided by one goal and the third to go past regulation. Canada overcame a late 2-1 deficit to beat the U.S. 3-2 on Marie-Philip Poulin’s overtime goal at the 2014 Sochi Games. The U.S. won 3-2 in 2018 when Jocelyne Lamoureux scored in a shootout.
Although the final couldn't have been closer, the Americans were dominant in Milan, going 7-0 and outscoring their opponents by a combined 33-2.
Canada pushed the U.S. to the brink just nine days after it was beaten 5-0 by the Americans in the preliminary round.
O’Neill’s goal 54 seconds into the second period ended the Americans' shutout streak of 5 hours, 52 minutes and 17 seconds, dating to the second period of a 5-1 opening win over Czechia. The U.S. had not trailed in the tournament.
As fans alternated chants of “USA! and “Ca-na-da,” Canada was within grasp of its sixth gold medal. The U.S. pulled Frankel for an extra attacker with 2:23 left, and Knight converted 19 seconds later. Edwards slapped a low shot at the net that Knight tipped in through her legs and past Desbiens.
This was the first Olympics for Edwards, the first Black woman to represent the U.S in hockey.
“We knew we had it in us, and Hil came up big with that tying goal,” Keller said. “I think just a lot of belief in our group. We wanted to play to win.”
For defending Olympic champion Canadians, this was considered a last hurrah for their aging core led by Marie-Philip Poulin. “Captain Clutch” and her teammates showed resolve by pushing the Americans to the brink.
Canada hardly looked overmatched in the first period, and O’Neill opened the scoring by capping a 2-on-1 short-handed break early in the second. Canada kept pressing its attack and had several chances in overtime.
A minute before Keller's goal, Sarah Fillier moved up the right wing only to have her shot stopped by Frankel, with the puck landing in the crease.
The Americans extended their winning streak against Canada to eight. It began with two wins at the world championships in April, including the gold medal game. The U.S. then swept a four-game exhibition series by a combined margin of 26-7.
The U.S., under coach John Wroblewski, revamped much of its roster from the team that lost 3-2 to Canada at the 2022 Beijing Games. This team featured just 11 returning players and seven who are still in college.
AP Olympic coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
United States' players celebrate after a women's ice hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Team United States players celebrate after beating Canada 2-1 in overtime in the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Canada's Kristin O'Neill (43) celebrates after scoring her side's opening goal during a women's ice hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
United States' Megan Keller celebrates after scoring the winning goal against Canada during the overtime period of the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
United States' Megan Keller (5) celebrates scoring the winning goal during a women's ice hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
United States' Megan Keller (5) scores past Canada's Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) during a women's ice hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
United States' Megan Keller celebrates after scoring the winning goal against Canada during the overtime period of the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Canada's Kristin O'Neill (43) scores her side's opening goal during a women's ice hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (David W Cerny/Pool Photo via AP)
United States' Hilary Knight, center, celebrates after scoring a goal against Canada during the third period of the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Canada players celebrate victory at the end of a women's ice hockey semifinal game between Canada and Switzerland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
US players celebrate at the end of a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between USA and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
