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Controversial Olympic athlete Eileen Gu has spoken out against the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) over its tight Olympic schedule, which she says will prevent her from participating in the proper training sessions she needs for a freestyle skiing event.
Gu, who is representing China at the 2026 Winter Olympics, made his thoughts known after clinching a place in the big air final, which will take place on Monday. She said competing in the final would prevent her from training properly for the qualifying round of the halfpipe final, which takes place on Thursday.
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China’s Eileen Gu warms up before the women’s big air freestyle skiing qualifications at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, February 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
“I am disappointed with the FIS,” she said. “I think the Olympics should embody aspiration, and I think being able to do something out of the ordinary should be celebrated rather than punished.”
Gu said she wasn’t trying to get special treatment, just the same training time as her competitors. She said she tried to compromise, including helping to train halfpipe skateboarders. She said the FIS told her she couldn’t make the change because it wouldn’t be fair to other competitors.
Gu already won silver in Slopestyle earlier this week.
China’s Eileen Gu waits for her score as she competes in the women’s big air freestyle skiing qualifiers at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
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“I think it’s really unfair. I think it’s punishing excellence, to be completely honest with you,” Gu added. “Because I dare to do three trials, and this makes it completely impossible to practice fairly for the third trial.”
The FIS has scheduled three practice sessions ahead of qualifying – an increase from two for a typical World Cup event. The organization’s spokesperson, Bruno Sassi, said that “every effort has been made to facilitate the best possible training” for the athletes.
“But as we have already seen at these Games, for athletes who choose to compete in multiple disciplines and/or multiple events, conflict can sometimes be unavoidable,” he said.
Gu, who was born in the United States but chose to compete for China, has not skied in a halfpipe event since December and has not competed in big air since winning gold at the Beijing Games in 2022. The halfpipe event is a bit more dangerous than the other two.
China’s Eileen Gu reacts after her first jump during the women’s big air freestyle skiing qualification during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Snow Park in Livigno, February 14, 2026. (Joe Camporeale/Imagn Images)
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Gu will have the big air final on Monday, followed by the halfpipe qualifier on Thursday, and the final will take place on Saturday.
