- Freeskier Mathilde Gremaud brought the third medal to the Swiss delegation in Beijing early Tuesday morning.
- On the day of her 22nd birthday, the Romande won bronze in the Big Air discipline, which was newly included in the Olympic programme.
- In 2018 in Pyeongchang, she catapulted herself onto the podium in second place in slopestyle.
Mathilde Gremaud is a multifaceted talent on the global freestyle scene. And at just 22 years old, she has the gift to shine on the Olympic stage. In Pyeongchang 2018 she had conquered the silver medal in the slopestyle competition.
4 years later, the French-speaking Swiss promptly delivered bronze on the Beijing concrete ramp – this time in the competition of the Big Air specialists. Under the emblem of the five colored rings, they were allowed to choose their best for the very first time.
Outperformed everyone in the 2nd run
The icing on the cake for Gremaud from Freiburg: she catapulted herself onto the podium on the day of her 22nd birthday and could not have given herself a better present.
The basis for the renewed medal coup was laid by the 3-time Big Air gold winner at X-Games with a par force performance in the 2nd of a total of 3 final runs. None of the 11 competitors could counter the double somersault with 2 twists (see video above).
After two thirds of the competition, the Romande lurked in second place. In the showdown she slipped down one rank because she took too much risk and complained about a fall. But the medal winner doesn’t have to worry about this abrupt end.
Höfflin follows in sixth place
Gremaud was only surpassed by Ailing Eileen Gu, who represents the Chinese colors as a native of the USA, and by Tess Ledeux (FRA).
Sarah Höfflin, the second Swiss participant in the final field, finished in a strong 6th place. 4 years ago she was still ahead in the team-internal duel and greeted from the top step of the podium at the Swiss Olympic double victory in the slope style.
Gremaud and Höfflin have a second chance at the 24th Winter Games from Sunday, when the slopestyle competition with the qualification is launched.