Controversy Surrounds Irene Gu and Olympic Schedule
Olympian Irene Gu has voiced her concerns regarding the frantic schedule set by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) for the upcoming Olympic Games. She fears it will hinder her ability to properly train for her events in freeskiing.
Representing China at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Gu expressed her frustrations after qualifying for the big air final. She pointed out that competing in this final would, unfortunately, clash with necessary practice sessions for the halfpipe qualifying round.
“I’m disappointed in FIS,” Gu stated. “I believe the Olympics should inspire people. Achievements beyond the norm ought to be celebrated rather than seen as a disadvantage.”
She clarified that her intention is not to seek special privileges, but rather to have the same training opportunities as her peers. Gu mentioned trying to make alternatives, like joining snowboard training in the halfpipe, but was told that altering the schedule wouldn’t be fair to other athletes.
Earlier this week, Gu earned a silver medal in slopestyle, showcasing her talent amidst these scheduling issues.
“It feels really unfair. Honestly, it punishes dedicated athletes,” she continued. “Attempting to juggle three events makes it nearly impossible to train appropriately for the third.”
The FIS had arranged three training sessions before the qualifying round, which is an increase compared to the usual two at World Cup events. However, spokesperson Bruno Sassi acknowledged that scheduling conflicts are often unavoidable, especially for those participating in multiple disciplines.
Born in the United States, Gu chose to compete for China and has not participated in a halfpipe competition since December. She also hasn’t had any experience in big air since her gold medal win at the Beijing 2022 Games—an event that presents its own set of risks.
With the big air final set for Monday and the halfpipe preliminaries following on Thursday, Gu is navigating a tightly packed schedule while trying to balance her training effectively.
