Gu strikes gold again in freeski halfpipe

Gu Ailing won gold in the women’s freestyle skiing halfpipe event on Friday at the Beijing Olympics.

The Californian-born Chinese superstar warmed up with a 93.25 on her first pass, before going even higher and bigger to post a 95.25 on her second, sealing the contest by the time she dropped for her final run – a nice relaxed stroll through the halfpipe.

The standout freestyle skier of the Beijing Olympics adds to the gold medal she won in the big air event and silver from slopestyle. She’s the first action-sports athlete to win three medals at the same Winter Olympics.

Defending Olympic champion Cassie Sharpe of Canada was second with a score of 90.75. She said after the result: “I’ll take it.” She was competing just over a year after suffering a torn ligament in her knee.

Sharpe’s teammate, Rachael Karker, took bronze. (AP)