Ailing (Eileen) Gu in Olympic freeski halfpipe final: Preview, Schedule & stars to watch

Ailing Eileen Gu topped the freestyle ski halfpipe qualification by some way on Thursday 17 February and is looking good for a third podium at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

Gold in big air, silver in slopestyle and a second gold in halfpipe?

It looks on - she topped Thursday morning's qualification with ease, is reigning halfpipe world champion, and is way ahead on the World Cup standings.

In her first run on Thursday she put down back-to-back 900s with big amplitude for 93.75 points - a score which would have easily qualified her in first place - and went even bigger on Run 2.

The 18-year-old put down two more massive 900s, a signature Buick grab, a 720 tail grab, switch 360 Japan, opposite alley-oop flatspins, and all with huge amplitude for a massive 95.50 second score.

One of the Games' brightest lights, competing for China, a second gold medal for Ailing Eileen Gu would cement her Beijing 2022 debut as one of the greatest in Olympic history.

Qualifying in second place was Rachael Karker who scored 89.50.

Karker, from Canada, is a 2021 World silver medallist and one of the few who can get up there and compete in the same airspace as Gu.

Another clear contender is Estonian skier Kelly Sildaru - she put down a solid run in qualifying that included a switch 540 and a nice 720 tail grab. The birthday girl scored 87.50 on her first run and didn't even need a second, saving herself for the final.

Sildaru already has Olympic bronze from slopestyle and watch out for her to go much bigger in Friday's final.

Beyond Gu and the top qualifiers there are plenty of skiers who could see their pipe dreams come true.

Great Britain's 19-year-old rising star Zoe Atkin qualified fourth on 86.75 and is well positioned for a run