Chinese Olympic champion Gu Ailing shared on Sina Weibo that she sustained an injury during a 'man-made' accident at a practice session on Friday. The 21-year-old described the crash as "very horrible" and flew to Christchurch for diagnostic imaging over the weekend.
Battling setbacks throughout the 2024-25 season, Gu had already withdrawn from the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, on the Chinese mainland’s Heilongjiang Province, due to earlier injuries. After months of rehabilitation, she resumed training on snow in New Zealand, blending high-altitude drills with strength programs.
Freestyle skiing is one of winter sports’ most demanding disciplines, with athletes pushing technical tricks under intense conditions. Gu’s training calendar can include hundreds of runs each week, making safety protocols and expert support crucial to sustain a peak performance cycle.
Now in Christchurch, Gu and her support team are awaiting final clearance from medical experts. "Hopefully I can go back to train on snow soon, but we are still waiting for final confirmation from experts," she wrote, emphasizing both her optimism and patience.
As Gu Ailing navigates another comeback, the global sports community is rallying behind the young star, highlighting her resilience and the human side of elite sport. Fans and fellow athletes alike are watching closely, eager to see one of winter’s brightest talents return to the slopes.
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Gu Ailing suffers injury in 'man-made' accident during practice
cgtn.com
