Ailing (Eileen) Gu talks pressure, the haters, and inspiring young girls after a life-changing Beijing 2022

Freestyle skiing prodigy Ailing (Eileen) Gu entered the Beijing 2022 Olympics with a huge amount of expectation and soon had the eyes of the world watching her every move on the snow.

That seems a lot for an 18-year-old, but it is something she has quickly become used to.

"In terms of the pressure, I just remember (that I) put more pressure on myself than anybody else can put on me," she told Olympics.com on Friday 18 February after completing her final event at the Winter Games.

The People's Republic of China superstar is now the first athlete to win three medals in three different freestyle skiing disciplines at an Olympic Winter Games, after winning a gold medal in the women's halfpipe, a gold medal in women's big air, and a silver in women's slopestyle.

In the women's halfpipe final on Friday, Gu's best score of 95.25 with her second run secured the gold medal, ahead of Canada's Cassie Sharpe and Rachael Karker.

Her almost effortless style on skis is matched by her beaming smile, vibrant personality, and enviable ability to handle pressure.

"I remember that I'm the one who did the work, and I'm the one who loves the sport, so I'm skiing for myself," she continued with Olympics.com.

"I'm of course forever grateful for all the support that I've received, to my family, to my friends, to the fans out here.

"But at the end of the day when I'm skiing, when I'm at the top, when I'm in the zone, it's just me. That's why I love to go skiing. I do it for myself." - Ailing (Eileen) Gu to Olympics.com after record medal haul

“In the other side, [to answer] the people that don't support me, in that sense it feels real good, really really good.

"This one is for the haters," she added.

The athlete, student and part-time model has