Eileen Gu Wins 5th Olympic Medal After Helmet Crack in Warmup

Eileen Gu cracked her helmet during warmups at the Winter Olympics Monday night, hitting her head hard enough that she needed to rest in a dark room before competing. Less than two hours later, she stood on the podium with a silver medal, her fifth in five Olympic events across two Games.

The 22-year-old freeskier hadn't competed in big air for four years. She learned the trick that helped her reach the podium just four days before the final.

"'Five-time Olympic medallist' kind of has a nice ring to it," Gu said after finishing just 1.75 points behind gold winner Megan Oldham of Canada.

Gu crashed during warmups while attempting a 1620-degree spin, the same trick that won her gold four years ago in Beijing. A near blizzard swept through the snowpark shortly after, delaying the start by 75 minutes and giving her crucial recovery time.

"I really needed those minutes," Gu said. "I don't think the outcome would've been the same, to be honest with you."

The comeback story extended beyond Gu. Oldham, 24, returned from a December concussion, unsure if she'd make it to the Olympics at all. Bronze medallist Flora Tabanelli competed just four months after tearing her ACL, choosing to ski in a brace rather than undergo season-ending surgery.

"Three months ago, after the injury, I thought I wouldn't make it here," Tabanelli said. "When I arrived here and said to myself, 'I feel pretty good,' it was already a win."

Why This Inspires

These athletes redefined what victory means. Oldham pushed through her concussion fears to claim gold. Tabanelli skied with an ACL tear to reach the podium. Gu learned new tricks in days and competed with a cracked helmet still fresh in her mind.

They proved that showing up despite the setbacks matters just as much as the medals themselves. Their stories remind us that resilience often looks like taking the next step when everything tells you to stop.

After landing her 1440-degree spin and securing her medal spot, Gu ran straight to the stands to celebrate with friends from college and junior high who'd flown from the United States for the long weekend. Between Stanford University, modeling, and competing for China, she'd let big air slide for four years.

When asked four days before the final what tricks she'd planned, Gu laughed: "I'd be, like, 'I'm in the final?'"

Three women who nearly didn't make it to the start line all found their way to the podium, proving that sometimes the biggest victories come from simply being brave enough to try.