Zhangjiakou, Feb. 15 (BNA): Switzerland’s Mathilde Grimaud won the gold medal in women’s free skating at the Beijing Olympics on Tuesday, while China’s Elaine Gu was won by local fans in the final, but had to win the silver.
The Chinese “Snow Princess” was off the start, landing a double cork 1080 while holding Japan in the first clean and controlled run, but crashing to the surface on her second attempt, forcing her to sit on her skis to catch her breath.
The fall added to the pressure on Joe before her third and final run, and while she got 86.23, it wasn’t enough to beat Grimaud’s best number of 86.56, while Estonian Kelly Seldaro took the bronze with 82.06, Reuters reported.
The 22-year-old Grimo, who won silver at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and bronze at the Big Air event last week, managed to trim her firepower until her second round, which propelled her to the top of the rankings.
Sildaru’s neat tracks were full of grabs in the air but she lost balance and fell on her second run, losing her skis and having to walk the track.
Local fans in heavy winter coats cheered Gu in the half-filled stands in Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou, waving small pink flags adorned with the famous Olympic mascot, a panda in an ice suit.
A group of staff and volunteers gathered at the site for the final round, excited to see Joe.