Gu's hungry for more success

Superstar savors local food during solid slopestyle opener

China's Gu Ailing qualified for the freeski women's slopestyle finals at Beijing 2022 on Monday, behind Estonia's Kelly Sildaru and Johanne Killi of Norway.

After opening with an error-strewn trip down the course, Gu nailed her second run on a sunny but freezing day at Genting Snow Park with a score of 79.38 to place third among the 12 qualifiers.

While waiting for her score, Gu took out a jiucaihezi, a Chinese savory pastry filled with chives, and took a bite. "Super good! One of my favorites," she said of the snack, before rushing to the halfpipe course for training.

"I didn't have time to sit in the lodge," Gu explained hours later, once her halfpipe practice was complete. "I'm a very aggressive practicer. For me, practice is go-go-go. I brought lunch. I was eating on the t-bar. I was done by the time I got to the top, and ready to drop in immediately."

Gu is going for her second gold in the slopestyle after claiming a historic victory in the women's freeski Big Air. She will also try for a third in the halfpipe.

Another Chinese athlete, 18-year-old Yang Shuorui, failed to qualify for Tuesday's final due to injury.

Top spot went to Sildaru, who will celebrate her 20th birthday on Thursday. The Estonian flagbearer laid down the best run of the day on her second effort, registering 86.15 on the scoreboard.

"I was actually quite nervous before the first run, especially because I couldn't put runs down in Big Air, so it was especially important for me to land a run. I'm super happy to put it down," she said.

Competing in her first Olympics, Sildaru said she has achieved her goal.

"It's been so nice. It's super great to be here. I missed the last Olympics due to injury, so it was super important for me. It was my goal to get to the Olympics, and now I'm here."

Killi is lying second after scoring 86.00 on her second run, and said she was "happy to land two runs today". But she plans to go one better in the finals.

"That run I planned wasn't really working," she said. "I'm stoked to put down a run today but I'm planning to do even better tomorrow.

"I had a little pressure today, but I tried to stay focused and tried to have fun. That's the most important thing, to have fun. Then the skiing also gets better," she added.

Defending champion Sarah Hoefflin of Switzerland was eliminated with 48.96 points. Pyeongchang silver medalist Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland scored 63.46 to edge into the finals. Tess Ledeux of France, last season's slopestyle crystal globe winner, scored 68.13 points to rank ninth.

Marin Hamill of the United States, who had already guaranteed a place in the final with the first-run score of 69.43 points, collapsed at the landing of her second run.

Hamill left the venue in an ambulance. According to medical staff at the scene, Hamill "hurt her knee "and "remains conscious". But so far it is still unclear how serious the injury is and if she can take part in Tuesday's final, which begins at 9:30 am.