https://www.scmp.com/rss/512370/feed Latest news and updates on double Winter Olympic freestyle skiing champion Eileen Gu. US-born Gu, won gold in the big air and half-pipe events in Beijing in February 2022, and silver in slopestyle.  The part-time model, who is known as Gu Ailing in China and speaks fluent English and Mandarin, swapped her Team USA colours in favour of representing her mother’s birthplace of China in 2019. At the time she said she wanted to pave the way for China’s next generation of female skiers. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre While it’s too soon to assess the impact of the Middle East conflict on luxury watch sales, the Iran war has already wreaked havoc on the logistics of an industry that heavily relies on the free flow of goods and people. One of the hottest topics at Watches and Wonders – the annual fair currently under way in Geneva – has been the disruptions that international editors and retailers heading to the event have experienced due to the crisis. After the US attacked Iran in late February, causing the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/luxury-news/article/3350113/watches-and-wonders-2026-rolex-cartier-and-audemars-piguets-debut-annual-geneva-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/luxury-news/article/3350113/watches-and-wonders-2026-rolex-cartier-and-audemars-piguets-debut-annual-geneva-event?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 03:25:14 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung To understand why German-Chinese athlete Sofie Fella felt compelled to design a T-shirt featuring the Chinese character da – Mandarin for “big” – one must understand the rigid expectations of Asian femininity. In cities like Shanghai, Fella’s hometown, the “ideal” body is more than an aesthetic – it is a signifier of virtue. This mindset is encouraged from a young age. Even as a Harvard University rugby player and now international competitor – she plays for the German national team – Fella has... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350000/rugby-player-fighting-asian-beauty-standards-showing-women-its-ok-be-strong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350000/rugby-player-fighting-asian-beauty-standards-showing-women-its-ok-be-strong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 03:00:24 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press San Francisco rang in the Year of the Horse with its annual Chinese New Year parade on Saturday evening, with thousands of revellers cheering on hometown hero and Olympic champion Eileen Gu as its grand marshal. The procession featured drums, dancing and floats celebrating the vibrancy of the Chinese-American community in the oldest celebration of its kind outside Asia and one of the largest. Civic leaders and performers paraded from downtown to Chinatown through popping firecrackers. Children... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3345853/olympian-eileen-gu-heads-annual-chinese-new-year-parade-her-native-san-francisco?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3345853/olympian-eileen-gu-heads-annual-chinese-new-year-parade-her-native-san-francisco?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 04:39:40 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Tired of the stereotypical expectations imposed on her as a young girl, Yvette Kong Man-yi “cut my hair short and looked like a little boy”. “I was from that era where they forced me to take ballet classes,” said 2016 Olympic Games swimmer Kong. “I wasn’t into wearing skirts and dresses … I was very into soccer, and a huge fan of Michael Owen. “During the 2002 World Cup, I was wearing a jersey with his name on the back and blended into a bunch of boys playing on a small football court. If they... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3345800/hong-kong-olympic-swimmer-yvette-kong-happy-keep-defying-traditional-limitations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3345800/hong-kong-olympic-swimmer-yvette-kong-happy-keep-defying-traditional-limitations?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 00:00:12 +0000 Bernard Chan Bernard Chan Athletes of Asian heritage have come to the fore at this month’s Winter Olympics. They broke records, reshaped perceptions and inspired millions worldwide. Yet in the United States, the conversation around two of the most successful athletes, Eileen Gu, the freestyle skier representing China, and Team USA figure skater Alysa Liu, has too often drifted from their incredible achievements to questions of identity, loyalty and partisan point-scoring. This speaks volumes about the anxieties of a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3345433/let-achievements-eileen-gu-and-alysa-liu-speak-themselves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3345433/let-achievements-eileen-gu-and-alysa-liu-speak-themselves?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Freestyle skiing star Eileen Gu said representing China had allowed her to fulfil her mission of popularising winter sport and dismantling gender barriers, but acknowledged it was something “a lot of people won’t understand or believe”. The 22-year-old, who brought her career total to six medals at last month’s Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, wrote on social media on Tuesday that her decision had turned her dreams into reality and maximised her global impact, encouraging young girls especially... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3345392/eileen-gu-says-people-wont-understand-or-believe-why-she-decided-compete-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3345392/eileen-gu-says-people-wont-understand-or-believe-why-she-decided-compete-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 09:30:08 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li China’s major sportswear makers have shrugged off soft consumer spending and a warm winter, according to analysts. Retail sales in China’s sportswear sector picked up in the first two months of 2026 and beat expectations, helped by fresh policy support and Chinese New Year demand, analysts said. Separately, Chinese households also tuned into the Winter Olympics, where domestic sportswear giants Li Ning and Anta had high visibility. “We are turning more positive on the China sportswear industry... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3345011/warm-winter-no-match-chinas-sportswear-sector-posts-surprise-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3345011/warm-winter-no-match-chinas-sportswear-sector-posts-surprise-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:18 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The Winter Olympic Games have gone into hibernation again for four years, until the relighting of the Olympic flame in 2030 by the next host – the French Alps. Norway will be aiming to top the gold-medal count for the fifth consecutive time, but many eyes will be on China to see if it can sustain its rise as a winter sports power. In the Milano Cortina games, the country has just achieved its best result in a Winter games outside China – five gold medals, four silver and six bronze. That may not... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344349/olympic-results-entrench-chinas-rise-winter-sports-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344349/olympic-results-entrench-chinas-rise-winter-sports-power?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara It was Su Yiming, on a 22nd birthday he will never forget, who ended China’s anxious 12-day wait for Winter Olympics gold in Italy. “I told myself only gold would allow our anthem to be played,” Su said. “In an international competition like this, letting the world hear China’s anthem means everything.” By the time Milano Cortina passed the Games torch across the border to the French Alps on Sunday, March of the Volunteers had been beamed into living rooms around the world a further four... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3344325/winter-olympics-china-enjoy-best-overseas-medal-haul-eileen-gu-looking-ahead-next-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3344325/winter-olympics-china-enjoy-best-overseas-medal-haul-eileen-gu-looking-ahead-next-games?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 08:01:54 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics was nothing short of a fashion show, given Milan’s history as one of the world’s fashion capitals – it’s also, of course, home to iconic brands like Prada, Armani, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and more. Running from February 6 to 22, the Olympics featured quite a few fashion highlights, including stunning team kits like Team USA’s Ralph Lauren knits to Team Mongolia’s viral uniforms by Goyol Cashmere. We also saw quite a few designer brands sported by... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3344295/13-dazzling-looks-winter-olympics-2026-mariah-carey-roberto-cavalli-charlize-theron-versace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3344295/13-dazzling-looks-winter-olympics-2026-mariah-carey-roberto-cavalli-charlize-theron-versace?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 05:31:01 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball China’s Eileen Gu became the most decorated freestyle skier in the history of the Winter Olympics after winning halfpipe gold on Sunday, then learned moments later that her grandmother had died. The 22-year-old Gu added a sixth medal to her already impressive collection, successfully defending a title she won as part of her triple haul at the Beijing Games four years ago. No other freeskier, man or woman, has won as many as Gu, who is the only woman to have competed in all the park and pipe... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3344263/eileen-gu-ends-winter-olympics-high-grabs-gold-womens-halfpipe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3344263/eileen-gu-ends-winter-olympics-high-grabs-gold-womens-halfpipe?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 11:05:34 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Eileen Gu was forced to wait for her final chance to win an Olympic gold at the Milan-Cortina Games as heavy snow forced organisers to postpone the women’s freeski halfpipe final. The event at Livigno Snow Park, high in the Italian Alps, was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday evening. But hours of relentless snow and poor visibility made it impossible to hold the competition. The final has been pushed back to Sunday morning, the final day of competition in Italy, with better weather... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3344232/eileen-gu-forced-wait-heavy-snow-postpones-olympic-halfpipe-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3344232/eileen-gu-forced-wait-heavy-snow-postpones-olympic-halfpipe-final?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 19:21:42 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The two best bets to win the gold medal in women’s halfpipe skiing at the Winter Olympics were born in the United States. But while Zoe Atkin, who led qualification into the final on Saturday (Sunday 2.30am, Hong Kong time), competes for Britain, hardly anyone raises a fuss about it. However, Eileen Gu competes for China and never hears the end of it. Stories of athletes who lived in one country then decided to compete for another are nothing new to international sports. Throw some Olympic rings... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3344207/halfpipe-medal-favourites-were-both-born-us-only-chinas-eileen-gu-gets-heat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3344207/halfpipe-medal-favourites-were-both-born-us-only-chinas-eileen-gu-gets-heat?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 12:00:10 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Speed skater Ning Zhongyan broke the West’s 100-year Winter Olympics stranglehold on the men’s 1,500m event on Thursday and hoped his “unbelievable” performance was just the beginning of a Chinese surge in the sport. Ning dashed to gold in a Games record time of one minute, 41.98 seconds at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium. American Jordan Stolz took silver, with defending champion Kjeld Nuis of the Netherlands claiming bronze. It was the first time an athlete not representing the United States... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3344089/ning-breaks-wests-grip-1500m-says-games-gold-just-start-china-speedskating?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3344089/ning-breaks-wests-grip-1500m-says-games-gold-just-start-china-speedskating?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:23:03 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Eileen Gu is one of the biggest names at the Milano Cortina Olympics, as is obvious from how her answer to an AFP reporter’s question about her performance at the Winter Games has gone viral. China’s freeski superstar came to Italy as one of the few athletes whose name transcends winter sports. Gu, 22, was the darling of the Beijing Games on home soil four years ago, where she won two gold medals and a silver, making her the first freestyle skier to collect three medals at a single Winter... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3343992/eileen-gus-exchange-reporter-over-medals-winter-olympics-goes-viral?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3343992/eileen-gus-exchange-reporter-over-medals-winter-olympics-goes-viral?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 11:30:07 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Decorated Olympian Eileen Gu said she “doesn’t feel any pressure” to win the first gold medal for China at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Gu made the comment after winning silver at the freestyle skiing women’s big air event on Monday. The Chinese star has two silver medals in Italy, after also winning a slopestyle silver last week. The remark is an about-turn for Gu, who earlier said she felt as though she was skiing “with the weight of two countries on my shoulders” after being beaten to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3343810/eileen-gu-doesnt-feel-any-pressure-win-chinas-first-gold-medal-winter-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3343810/eileen-gu-doesnt-feel-any-pressure-win-chinas-first-gold-medal-winter-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 09:30:08 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Eileen Gu grabbed her second silver of the Winter Olympics and said she was “really proud”, despite failing to defend the freeski big air title she won in Beijing four years ago. The Chinese star had been among the favourites to win even though she had not competed in the discipline for several years, and seemed destined to do so after major rival Mathilde Gremaud withdrew through injury at the last minute. A major snowstorm also delayed proceedings by more than an hour, allowing Gu to recover... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3343780/chinas-eileen-gu-really-proud-big-air-silver-after-inspired-oldham-wins-games-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3343780/chinas-eileen-gu-really-proud-big-air-silver-after-inspired-oldham-wins-games-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 23:41:14 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Eileen Gu qualified in second place for the big air final and then said Winter Olympics organisers were “punishing excellence” because doing so cuts down the amount of training time she has for her favoured halfpipe event. Gu, who won silver in slopestyle last week, is the only female freeskier signed up for all three disciplines – slopestyle, halfpipe and big air. She is the defending champion in the last two after winning gold in Beijing four years ago, where she also won silver in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3343603/winter-olympics-eileen-gu-says-officials-punishing-excellence-after-reaching-big-air-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3343603/winter-olympics-eileen-gu-says-officials-punishing-excellence-after-reaching-big-air-final?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:41:15 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Sun Long rebounded from his earlier disappointment to claim Winter Olympics silver in the men’s 1,000m short-track speedskating on Thursday, earning China just its fourth medal of this year’s Milano Cortina Games. The 25-year-old’s silver, days after an error cost any hope of a medal in the mixed team relay, was the second for the delegation, following on from Eileen Gu’s in the freeski slopestyle event on Tuesday. Snowboarder Su Yiming was the first Chinese athlete to get on the board, but he... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3343494/winter-olympics-china-fans-joke-wait-gold-medal-passing-parcel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3343494/winter-olympics-china-fans-joke-wait-gold-medal-passing-parcel?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:30:14 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), the global governing body for winter sports, has apologised and deleted a social media comment that described Eileen Gu’s failure to win slopestyle gold at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics as “karma”. The remark appeared on FIS Park & Pipe, one of FIS’ official TikTok accounts, under a video about Switzerland’s Mathilde Gremaud winning the women’s freeski slopestyle title on Monday. In the comments section, a user wrote: “Not‑so‑fun fact:... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3343359/winter-sports-world-body-apologises-after-karma-comment-eileen-gus-olympic-silver?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3343359/winter-sports-world-body-apologises-after-karma-comment-eileen-gus-olympic-silver?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:00:09 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Eileen Gu is looking to defend her big air crown at the Winter Olympics this Sunday, but she will once again have to outdo the Swiss skier who denied her a gold medal for the second consecutive Games earlier this week. The Chinese freestyle skiing star finished second to Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland in the women’s slopestyle, a repeat of the result at the last Games. But both athletes were very positive after the event. “That was definitely the best slopestyle run I’ve ever done,” Gu... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3343211/eileen-gu-has-winter-olympics-gold-sight-rival-mathilde-gremaud-stands-her-way?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3343211/eileen-gu-has-winter-olympics-gold-sight-rival-mathilde-gremaud-stands-her-way?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 02:00:56 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Eileen Gu believes she is skiing better than ever and will approach her next two events at the Winter Olympics with “a real sense of confidence”, despite missing out on slopestyle gold on Monday. The Chinese skier was narrowly beaten by Switzerland’s Mathilde Gremaud for the second Games running, while Canada’s Megan Oldham took bronze in the Italian Alps. Gremaud’s medal chest also includes a silver in slopestyle from the 2018 Games and a bronze in big air from 2022. Gu, meanwhile, has the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3342972/chinas-eileen-gu-says-shes-skiing-better-ever-ahead-winter-olympic-golds-defence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3342972/chinas-eileen-gu-says-shes-skiing-better-ever-ahead-winter-olympic-golds-defence?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 22:00:13 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Eileen Gu said she felt as though she were skiing “with the weight of two countries on my shoulders” after again being beaten to Winter Olympics gold in the women’s slopestyle by Mathilde Gremaud. The Swiss 26-year-old defended her Beijing title with a historic performance in Livigno on Monday, leaving Gu to add another silver to the one she claimed four years ago. Canada’s Megan Oldham took bronze, just holding on to deny Britain’s Kirsty Muir despite a big crash on her second run. For Gu, who... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3342958/milano-cortina-winter-olympics-eileen-gu-takes-slopestyle-silver-again-gremaud-defends-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3342958/milano-cortina-winter-olympics-eileen-gu-takes-slopestyle-silver-again-gremaud-defends-title?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:05:48 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. US accuses China of secret nuclear testing after offering Beijing arms treaty 2. As Beijing and Moscow tout ties, China’s companies keep Ukraine’s lights on 3. Call for tougher animal welfare laws after invasive turtle found in Hong Kong 4. Mum urges China star Eileen Gu to ‘wake up’, sparks... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3342859/china-accused-secret-nuclear-tests-eileen-gus-big-comeback-5-weekend-reads-you-missed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3342859/china-accused-secret-nuclear-tests-eileen-gus-big-comeback-5-weekend-reads-you-missed?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 04:15:10 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang In the early hours of Sunday, China’s snowboarder Su Yiming won bronze in the men’s big air, securing the country’s first medal at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Even though Su won bronze, some Chinese netizens raised concerns about the scores awarded by the Japanese judge – one of six from different countries scoring the contest. On Su’s first jump, he scored 88.75, with the Japanese judge giving the lowest mark of 87, which was not added to the tally. On his second jump, he was awarded... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3342834/su-yiming-defends-judging-after-winning-big-air-bronze-eileen-gu-admits-feeling-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3342834/su-yiming-defends-judging-after-winning-big-air-bronze-eileen-gu-admits-feeling-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press You might be inclined to think of freestyle skiing as one of the new kids on the block at the Winter Olympics — after all, there are lots of young athletes doing it — but some of the freeskiiing sports were introduced at the Calgary Games some 38 years ago. Four decades of familiarity with moguls, the halfpipe, big air and more have turned some of these daring athletes into household names and their tricks are getting more creative. How it works The three most popular disciplines in this sport... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3342744/big-air-moguls-and-slopestyle-what-know-about-freestyle-skiing-winter-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3342744/big-air-moguls-and-slopestyle-what-know-about-freestyle-skiing-winter-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Eileen Gu said her mum fed her snacks and told her to “wake up and get it together” after a shocking first run from China’s freeski superstar in the slopestyle qualifiers put her Olympic dream in jeopardy. Double Olympic champion Gu lost her balance on the first rail during her initial run at Livigno Snow Park on Saturday, scoring just 1.26 with the judges. That put her under intense pressure, with the top 12 competitors progressing to Monday’s final based on the better of their two runs. But... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3342783/mum-urges-chinese-freeski-star-eileen-gu-wake-sparks-olympics-comeback-after-fall?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3342783/mum-urges-chinese-freeski-star-eileen-gu-wake-sparks-olympics-comeback-after-fall?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 15:00:13 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu With the Winter Olympics now under way in Milan and Cortina, Chinese brands involved in the Games are mounting an ambitious marketing push across Italy and Europe, with sportswear and sports equipment naturally taking centre stage. At the forefront is Li Ning, the company supplying the national team with clothing and gear for the competition after returning as the official partner of the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) – a role that had previously ended in 2004. The partnership coincides with Li... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342687/chinese-sports-brands-set-sights-european-expansion-2026-winter-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342687/chinese-sports-brands-set-sights-european-expansion-2026-winter-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 08:00:15 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The start of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy is upon us. The torch relay is nearly complete and some of the top athletes are already making headlines. There are 16 sports in all, including some never seen before, and 116 gold medals are waiting to be awarded. Milan’s San Siro stadium is the venue for Friday’s opening ceremony, which is usually the most viewed moment of the Games as millions around the world will watch on official broadcasters. US pop star Mariah Carey and crossover tenor... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3342615/winter-olympics-2026-guide-all-you-need-know-about-milano-cortina-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3342615/winter-olympics-2026-guide-all-you-need-know-about-milano-cortina-games?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 05:51:37 +0000 Reuters Reuters Eileen Gu said on Tuesday she was entering her second Winter Olympics with new-found love ‌and a different approach to her sport after feeling stuck ‍in recent years. Gu acknowledged that the last year had been marred by injuries, limited training time and the demands of full-time study, leaving her to “live contest to contest”. “Now ⁠I feel this renewed sense of infatuation with skiing itself, with competing for the sake of sportsmanship and Olympic values,” she shared on social media. “No... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3342337/eileen-gu-feels-renewed-sense-infatuation-skiing-ahead-2026-winter-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3342337/eileen-gu-feels-renewed-sense-infatuation-skiing-ahead-2026-winter-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:00:40 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Eileen Gu soared to double Olympic gold as a teenager four years ago, but it was the colour of her passport that drew as much scrutiny as her stunning displays. Gu was born and raised in San Francisco and started her freeskiing career representing the United States, only to switch allegiance to China – where her mother is from – in 2019. That decision drew intense interest at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics when she delivered two golds and a silver for the hosts and became one of the faces of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3341937/eileen-gu-be-spotlight-winter-olympics-again-passport-issue-refuses-go-away?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3341937/eileen-gu-be-spotlight-winter-olympics-again-passport-issue-refuses-go-away?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 07:45:15 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li China have named several Olympic champions in their squad for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games next month, including two foreign-born speed skaters who won gold medals for their countries of birth. The champions in the 124-strong team include skiers Eileen Gu and Xu Mengtao, snowboarder Su Yiming and figure skating pair Sui Wenjing and Han Cong. Also in the squad are South Korean-born Lin Xiaojun and Hungarian-born Liu Shaoang, who are both speed skaters and first-time... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3340990/china-name-eileen-gu-su-yiming-and-lin-xiaojun-powerhouse-winter-olympics-squad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3340990/china-name-eileen-gu-su-yiming-and-lin-xiaojun-powerhouse-winter-olympics-squad?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 09:00:15 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Two-time Olympic champion Eileen Gu shook off a crash and celebrated her second straight slopestyle title at the Laax Open in Switzerland on Saturday. Gu had already locked up victory before she set out on her second run. She tried a double cork 1080 – that’s two head-over-heels flips – but fell hard on her right side with one ski and her poles flying off after coming up short on a rotation. After gathering herself on the slope, she skied gently down to the finish and appeared not to be... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3340289/eileen-gu-warms-olympics-retaining-her-laax-ski-slopestyle-title-despite-crash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3340289/eileen-gu-warms-olympics-retaining-her-laax-ski-slopestyle-title-despite-crash?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 01:09:48 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport The New Year may have been a little low key as far as sport in Hong Kong is concerned, but 2026 is promising to be just as busy as the past 12 months. Along with major events such as the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, LIV Golf and the return of the World Table Tennis Finals, there is something for almost everyone in the coming year. And while there is still no word yet on whether the hugely successful Football Festival will be back again, here are some of the events we do know about so you can... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3338401/ice-hockey-sevens-heres-some-what-lies-ahead-hong-kong-sport-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3338401/ice-hockey-sevens-heres-some-what-lies-ahead-hong-kong-sport-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 09:30:09 +0000 Josiah Ng Josiah Ng It’s been another year of twists and turns, highs and lows for the world of horology. LVMH Watch Week and Watches and Wonders kicked off the horological year in style as usual, but fairs like Geneva Watch Days and Dubai Watch Week in the latter half of the year grew significantly larger as well. US President Donald Trump’s tariffs dominated headlines for the global watch industry this year, generally affecting operations and price adjustments as tariffs were paused, resumed, increased and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3337330/2025-timepieces-9-top-moments-watches-year-donald-trumps-tariffs-return-urban-jurgensen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3337330/2025-timepieces-9-top-moments-watches-year-donald-trumps-tariffs-return-urban-jurgensen?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 06:00:12 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Eileen Gu kept her perfect record at the Genting Resort Secret Garden intact on Saturday, battling challenging conditions and some brief self-doubt to claim gold in the first Halfpipe World Cup of the 2025-26 season. The double Olympic gold medallist has never lost on the course that hosted the Beijing Games almost four years ago, and Gu laid down the kind of performance that had already earned her 18 World Cup titles heading into the weekend. Still, it needed an exceptional final run amid... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3336323/eileen-gus-golden-secret-train-youve-never-won-compete-youve-never-lost?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3336323/eileen-gus-golden-secret-train-youve-never-won-compete-youve-never-lost?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Dec 2025 08:43:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Eileen Gu returned to the mountain where she enjoyed great success at the Beijing Olympics to capture the first Snow League title for freeskiing on Saturday. Gu, the 22-year-old who won two golds and a silver at the 2022 Games, won all six of her head-to-head showdowns against other skiers whose runs in this new format are judged against each other in a set of best-of-three contests through three rounds. For winning the first skiing event in Shaun White’s new half-pipe league, Gu takes home a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3335451/eileen-gu-returns-scene-her-beijing-olympic-triumphs-and-wins-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3335451/eileen-gu-returns-scene-her-beijing-olympic-triumphs-and-wins-again?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 08:30:17 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Eileen Gu has recovered from the “very terrible accident” she had in August and will head back to the mountain in China where she won an Olympic title to ski in the Snow League, the half-pipe circuit founded by Shaun White. Gu, who won half-pipe and big air gold and slopestyle silver in freeskiing at the 2022 Beijing Games, is one of eight women who will take part in freeskiing on December 6 at China’s Yunding Snow Park. The 22-year-old took a tumble while training at the Cardrona Alpine Resort... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3327586/eileen-gu-returning-scene-beijing-olympics-gold-glory-snow-league-shot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3327586/eileen-gu-returning-scene-beijing-olympics-gold-glory-snow-league-shot?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 04:01:50 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Eileen Gu has said she suffered an injury following a “very terrible accident” while training in New Zealand. Gu, who only resumed training last month after hurting herself at the Winter X Games in January, was training at the Cardrona Alpine Resort before the incident happened on Friday. The Chinese freestyle skier posted on Weibo detailing the incident and said she had flown to Christchurch early on Saturday for medical imaging, which would reveal the extent of the injury she had... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3322125/skier-eileen-gu-injured-very-terrible-accident-while-training?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3322125/skier-eileen-gu-injured-very-terrible-accident-while-training?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Aug 2025 07:09:18 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Freestyle skier Eileen Gu is back in training and gearing up for her second Olympic cycle, following a disappointing end to the 2024-25 season that saw her miss February’s Asian Winter Games in Harbin because of injury. The two-time Olympic champion posted a 45-second video on Weibo showcasing her gym routine. The clip ends with Gu performing a cork 720 with a Buick grab on a slope in Austria. In January, Gu was left badly bruised from a fall during the Winter X Games after winning gold in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3318465/chinese-olympic-champion-skier-eileen-gu-back-training-enjoys-first-ever-spa-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3318465/chinese-olympic-champion-skier-eileen-gu-back-training-enjoys-first-ever-spa-day?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 11:05:18 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer World No 5 Zheng Qinwen could find herself climbing to the top of a different rankings list after the Olympic tennis champion signed up her 15th commercial sponsor – making her potentially the highest-paid female athlete in the world. Zheng on Tuesday revealed her partnership with Chinese social media giant RedNote, a move that will only increase her off-court earnings, which surpassed US$15 million in 2024. State media outlets reported that with the country’s Instagram-style platform on board,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3315816/zheng-qinwens-court-earnings-set-top-us30-million-after-signing-15th-sponsor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3315816/zheng-qinwens-court-earnings-set-top-us30-million-after-signing-15th-sponsor?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Jun 2025 11:49:32 +0000 Nancy Wang Nancy Wang As university graduation season comes around again, more students in mainland China and Hong Kong are tossing away traditional mortarboards and gowns for alternatives that are more colourful and fashionable. On the social media platform RedNote – also known as Xiaohongshu – white graduation dresses are a much-discussed topic, with views of related posts reaching over 2 million. Meanwhile, more than 174,000 posts on Instagram have the tag #graduationdress. Chinese-American freestyle skiing world... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3314593/chinese-students-spice-graduation-dresses-gowns-and-caps-more-fashionable-looks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3314593/chinese-students-spice-graduation-dresses-gowns-and-caps-more-fashionable-looks?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Jun 2025 23:15:07 +0000 Josiah Ng Josiah Ng This March and April, the world once again descended on Geneva for the year’s biggest watch fair, Watches and Wonders. But hanging over the fair were US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on the Swiss watchmaking industry, and brands seem increasingly likely to price up their watches as a result. Nevertheless, we were cheered to spot several stars wearing Rolexes on television recently, or grail watches off screen; Breitling added another aviation-themed vintage brand to its expanding catalogue;... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3309367/7-timepiece-moments-march-and-april-2025-watches-wonders-effects-trumps-tariffs-and-bevy-new?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/watches/article/3309367/7-timepiece-moments-march-and-april-2025-watches-wonders-effects-trumps-tariffs-and-bevy-new?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 May 2025 06:00:13 +0000 Eileen Gu said she was quickly discovering that her second Winter Olympics was going to be tougher than the first, with most of the pressure to succeed coming from within. The Beijing double gold medallist will represent China again next year, and has a rich history to live up to at the Milano Cortina Games. In 2022, the 21-year-old became the first freestyle skier to win three medals at a single Olympics: gold in big air and half-pipe, and silver in slopestyle. “I’m very much looking forward to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3304870/eileen-gu-chasing-2026-winter-olympics-gold-her-love-brad-pitts-new-f1-film?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3304870/eileen-gu-chasing-2026-winter-olympics-gold-her-love-brad-pitts-new-f1-film?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Apr 2025 05:31:10 +0000 Chinese authorities appear to have censored a document showing plans to spend more than US$6.6 million this year on training for two American-born winter sport athletes, including double Olympic gold medallist Eileen Gu. Freestyle skier Gu and figure skater Beverly Zhu were both born and raised in the United States, but switched allegiance to China. At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Gu’s medal success – she won two golds and a silver – made her a national hero, while Zhu’s blunder-filled... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3300210/training-budgets-us-born-eileen-gu-beverly-zhu-censored-chinese-internet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3300210/training-budgets-us-born-eileen-gu-beverly-zhu-censored-chinese-internet?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Feb 2025 08:26:35 +0000 Li Fanghui only arrived in China four days ago as a late replacement for the injured Eileen Gu, she ended up claiming her country’s first gold of the Asian Winter Games – and a Saturday that began with a wave of South Korean victories ended with the hosts top of the medal table. The absence of the double Olympic gold medallist had briefly cast an early shadow over China’s preparations, but Li’s dominant display in the freeski half-pipe was as close to Gu-like as it may have been possible for the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3297887/asian-winter-games-li-makes-most-eileen-gu-absence-claim-chinas-first-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3297887/asian-winter-games-li-makes-most-eileen-gu-absence-claim-chinas-first-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Feb 2025 05:35:53 +0000 Eileen Gu announced on Tuesday that she had been forced to pull out of this month’s Asian Winter Games, after reinjuring herself during training for a World Cup event last weekend. The Olympian said it was with “a heavy heart” that she had to withdraw from China’s team for the multi-sport event in the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin, which is gearing up to be the largest edition of the Games yet. Freestyle skier Gu was initially hurt during the Winter X Games in Aspen 10 days ago, when she... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3297311/chinas-eileen-gu-pulls-out-asian-winter-games-after-injury-training?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3297311/chinas-eileen-gu-pulls-out-asian-winter-games-after-injury-training?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Feb 2025 08:48:43 +0000 China’s Olympic champion skier Eileen Gu said she ignored signs that she was exhausted before a crash that caused her withdrawal from the X Games and left her “unable to walk”. Gu crashed into safety netting during the ski street style event in Aspen, Colorado on Friday local time, and was examined by medics before hobbling from the scene – with, she later revealed, severe bruising. It came on the day that Gu was named in China’s 170-athlete delegation for next month’s Asian Winter Games, to be... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3296274/eileen-gu-unable-walk-ok-after-skiing-crash-forces-x-games-withdrawal-aspen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3296274/eileen-gu-unable-walk-ok-after-skiing-crash-forces-x-games-withdrawal-aspen?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Jan 2025 10:34:28 +0000 Chinese athletes dominated the FIS Freestyle World Cup in Lake Placid on Saturday, winning gold in the women’s aerial while five of the country’s skiers in the men’s event occupied the top six spots. Four-time Olympic medallist skier Xu Mengtao won World Cup gold when she pulled off a back double full-full – the hardest trick to land in the women’s field – to score her a 95.52 in the super-final. Reigning world champion Australian Danielle Scott was in second with 95.17 and Canada’s Marion... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3295377/fis-world-cup-xu-mengtao-eileen-gu-snare-titles-chinese-athletes-dominate-slopes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3295377/fis-world-cup-xu-mengtao-eileen-gu-snare-titles-chinese-athletes-dominate-slopes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Jan 2025 09:29:24 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang Champion skier Eileen Gu has hit back at critics who say she is not fully committed to China by citing the 39 medals she has won for the country over the past five years. Born in San Francisco in the United States, the 20-year-old freestyle skier, who originally held US citizenship, announced in June 2019 that she had become a Chinese citizen and that she would represent China in future competitions. The decision marked the beginning of the long-lasting controversy. At the 2022 Beijing Winter... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3275452/what-have-you-done-china-champion-skier-eileen-gu-hits-back-critics-cites-39-medals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3275452/what-have-you-done-china-champion-skier-eileen-gu-hits-back-critics-cites-39-medals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Aug 2024 10:00:21 +0000