Eileen Gu, the freestyle skiing sensation, won a gold medal in the halfpipe event at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Sunday. However, during her press conference, she disclosed that she arrived late due to receiving the heartbreaking news of her grandmother Feng Guozhen's passing. Gu, 22, who represents China but was born and raised in the United States, expressed her sorrow while reflecting on the significant impact her grandmother had on her upbringing.

Prior to heading to the Olympics, Gu had been informed that her grandmother was seriously ill. Nevertheless, the news of her grandmother's death hit her hard, leading to an emotional moment during the press conference. Gu shared that she last saw her grandmother before departing for the games, and although she couldn't promise her that she would win a medal, she vowed to be brave, just like her grandmother.

Gu's triumph in the halfpipe, alongside her additional silver medals in both big air and slopestyle, shines light on her remarkable skills as an athlete while contrasting the sorrow she feels personally. This balance of victory and grief underscores the profound connection between her achievements and her family, making her Olympic success even more poignant in light of her loss.