03/20/26 07:58:00
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03/20 19:56 CDT Eileen Gu's latest victory gives her the inaugural Snow League
title
Eileen Gu's latest victory gives her the inaugural Snow League title
LAAX, Switzerland (AP) --- Eileen Gu added another halfpipe title to her resume
Friday, taking the first Snow League season championship by capturing gold in
the circuit's last contest.
The victory came nearly four weeks after the 22-year-old capped off the Milan
Cortina Olympics with a gold medal on the halfpipe, adding to a pair of silver
medals she had won earlier in slopestyle and big air. Over two Games, Gu has
captured a medal in all six events she's entered --- the only freeskier to do
that in the sport's history.
"I take a lot of meaning in being the first to do things," Gu said after
becoming the first champion crowned in Shaun White's new league that features
halfpipe riding in skiing and snowboarding. "To be a part of this league means
so much to me. ... I believe so much in the vision and the direction that it's
pushing the sport."
Gu, who was born in the United States but competes under the flag of her
mother's homeland, China, earned $75,000 for the victory --- $50,000 for
winning the contest and another $25,000 for capturing the season crown. Fifteen
of Gu's 20 World Cup titles have come on the halfpipe.
Luke Harrold of New Zealand took home $75,000 for winning both the event and
the season title on the men's side.
The snowboarders will close the league's first season Saturday, with Olympic
gold medalist Yuto Totsuka trying to wrap up the title; he holds a slim lead in
the standings over Olympic bronze medalist Ryusei Yamada.
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AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
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