Gu wins China's first women's Superpipe gold at Winter X-Games
Gu's competitive style and dedication to her sport were revealed last year when she graduated from high school early for a gap year to train before starting at Stanford University in fall 2022.
With a Chinese mother and American father, Gu was born and raised in San Francisco and has her eyes set on the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. She announced in June 2019 she would compete for China in Beijing 2022.
"With 900s in both directions, a lofty switch 720 and an average amplitude on her best run of 11-feet 3-inches, Gu bested two-time Women's Ski SuperPipe gold medalist Cassie Sharpe, who took silver, and defending silver-medalist Rachael Karker, who took bronze," ESPN announced.
Gu led the competition from the start - that included four runs - but was aided in victory when 2020 gold medalist Kelly Sildaru withdrew after injuring her left knee in a practice run for Big Air just hours earlier.
"I went huge on my third run and I remember in the middle of my rodeo while I was upside down, I was like 'I think I just won X Games,' while I was in the air," Gu said, adding, "because I have never skied that well in my entire life."
