Emotional Eileen Gu fights back tears as she reveals she was told her grandmother died after winning Olympic gold

Eileen Gu learned her grandmother had passed away moments after winning a gold medal at the Winter Olympics on Sunday.

The Chinese freestyle skier broke down in tears as she revealed the news during a press conference after the women’s halfpipe final.

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Gu clinched her third medal of the Milan Cortina Games ahead of compatriot Li Fanghui and Team GB’s Zoe Atkin.

It followed silver medals in the slopestyle and big air events earlier in the Games.

The 22-year-old has now won six Winter Olympic medals, including three golds, to make her the most decorated freestyle skier in history.

However, her latest triumph was quickly overshadowed by the passing of her grandmother.

Gu had been told the news between winning gold and arriving at the press conference following the final.

Having arrived later than initially scheduled, an emotional Gu told reporters: “The reason I was late is that I just found out that my grandma passed away.

“She was a really big part of my life growing up and someone I looked up to immensely.”

Gu’s middle name, Feng, is the same as her grandmother Feng Guozhen’s first name.

The emotional gold medallist beamed as she held back tears whilst speaking about their relationship.

Paying tribute to Feng, she continued: “She was so strong, she was a fighter and I think what’s so interesting is that a lot of people just cruise through life but she was a steamship.

“This woman commanded life and she grabbed it by the reins and she made it into what she wanted it to be and she inspired me so much.

“The last time I saw her before I came to the Olympics she was very sick so I knew that this was a possibility.

“I didn’t promise her that I was going to win but I did promise her that I was going to be brave like she has been brave and that’s why I keep referring to this theme of betting on myself and being brave and taking risks.

“It actually goes back to that promise that I made my grandma and so I’m really happy that I was able to uphold that and hopefully do her proud but it’s also a really difficult time for me now so I really apologise for being late but that’s what was going on.”

Gu’s victory on the final day of the Games secured China’s 15th medal in Italy as they finished with five golds, four silvers and six bronzes.

She is also now a two-time women’s halfpipe Olympic champion after defending her title from four years ago.

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The USA-born athlete had represented the USA earlier in her career but has done so for China since June 2019.

Gu was previously named the fourth-highest earning female athlete in the world last year after taking home £17million.