Gu Ailing
One of the most popular players at Beijing 2022 is two—time freeski(自由式滑雪) world champion(冠军) Gu Ailing. Going into the Games, the 18—year. old girl set her sights high(目标远大).
In the women's freeski big air event, she won gold thanks to a left double cork 1620 jump. To complete the jump, she made four and a half rotations(旋转) in the air and landed backward (向后). It was a difficult jump that she had never done before. Her mother told her to play it safely. "But I didn't listen to her and gave it a go, not trying to beat anyone but to elevate(提升) myself to the next level. " said Gu.
Gu is known for her strong will and hard work. She encourages teenagers, especially girls, to challenge themselves through winter sports. "I love feeling nervous and then overcoming(克服)it, feeling that rush and that reward(回报). . that got me into skiing," Gu told The New York Times.
Gu is also a part—time model and piano player. She will start studying at Stanford University this autumn.
