China's "golden girl" saved her best for last as freeski sensation Gu Ailing delivered on Sunday's final day at Milano-Cortina 2026 to successfully defend her Olympic gold medal in the women's halfpipe.

Li Fanghui came second at the Livigno Snow Park on 93 points to complete a thrilling one-two finish for Team China, while Great Britain's Zoe Atkin rounded off the podium with a third place finish on 92.5 points.

This was Gu's third medal win at the Milano-Cortina Games, having previously collected two silver medals in slopestyle and big air. Sunday's success took the Chinese delegation's overall medal tally in Italy to 15, including five gold, which represents the country's best-ever result at an overseas edition of the Winter Games.

This was also the second straight time Gu has finished on podiums in all three freestyle events she had signed up to at a single Games, following the same feat on home snow at Beijing 2022, which further cements her status as the most rounded freestyle champion for either women or men.

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn