Eileen Gu Tops Halfpipe Qualifying as U.S.-Born Favorites Skip Stars-and-Stripes Start

The women’s halfpipe contest at the Games began without its two U.S.-born medal favorites wearing American colors, leaving the early spotlight to China’s Eileen Gu, who dominated the opening heat on her way to the final.

Neither of the athletes widely pegged as podium threats—both born in the United States—competed under the Stars and Stripes, a development that reshaped the narrative before the first run was even dropped. Gu, competing for China, seized the moment with a commanding performance that topped the leaderboard and set the tone for the medal round.

The qualifying session underscored the shifting national dynamics in action sports, where pedigree and passport no longer align in predictable fashion. With the U.S.-born favorites sidelined from representing their native country, Gu’s confident showing added another layer to the unfolding drama atop the halfpipe wall.