American freestyle skiing athlete Eileen Gu reported being involved in a “very bad accident” during her training in New Zealand.
Gu, who recently resumed training after an injury at last month’s X Games, shared the news on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform. However, she didn’t disclose the specifics of her injury.
Witnesses mentioned that Gu seemed to be hurt seriously and was carried to the hospital.
“Unfortunately, there was a terrible accident yesterday. We really hope to be back on the snow soon, but we’re waiting for confirmation from our medical team,” she said.
The two-time Olympic champion emphasized the dangers of being suspended and cautioned against filming her during her practice sessions.
“You have to stay focused during training, especially at the start, because interruptions can be incredibly dangerous,” Gu noted. “I also need to visualize my movements while using the lift.”
To make the most of her time, Gu mentioned that there are no lunch breaks and urged fans not to record or take pictures during workouts.
After the ski park closed, she reportedly offered to meet fans at a restaurant in the resort.
Earlier in January, the San Francisco native withdrew from both the Big Air and Halfpipe competitions after collapsing at the X Games in Aspen.
Gu made history at the 2022 Beijing Olympics when she became the first freestyle skier to win three medals—two golds and one silver—in a single event.
Born in America, Gu announced in 2019 that she would represent her mother’s heritage at the Winter Olympics in Beijing, while her father is American.
Being in the spotlight, Gu has faced various controversies regarding her decisions during that time.
She holds the record for the most freestyle skiing World Cup titles, with 15 championships.
In addition to her athletic pursuits, Gu is also an IMG model, having landed high-profile campaigns, including one with Louis Vuitton. She made her debut in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue in 2025.
Following the 2022 Winter Olympics, she enrolled at Stanford University.
