Queen of the Air: Xu Mengtao Soars Into History at Milano Cortina 2026

She has been called the greatest aerials skier of all time, and on a crisp Wednesday evening in the Italian Alps, Xu Mengtao gave the world every reason to agree. The 35-year-old Chinese superstar successfully defended her Olympic title in the women's freestyle skiing aerials, becoming the first athlete in the history of the discipline to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals. Her breathtaking back full-full-full — a triple-twisting triple somersault — earned a score of 112.90, a mark that none of her rivals could come close to touching.

"When it mattered most, she was flawless," said one ringside commentator, and that is perhaps the most concise summary of a career that now boasts 35 World Cup victories, five Olympic Games, and a legacy that is now, definitively, unmatched.

"This is also the second time that I take the Crystal Globe on top of the Olympic gold. To me, this is very meaningful. I want to spread this passion with every athlete who loves sports and winter sports. Age should not become a form of shackle on us. It should not hold us back. As long as you’re passionate about what you do and you harbour a dream, you’ll always be in your prime. said  Xu Mengtao 

Australia's Danielle Scott earned silver with a score of 102.17, giving Australia their sixth medal of the Milano Cortina Games Olympics — and easily the most emotionally charged. Scott, also 35, arrived in Livigno as a four-time Olympian who had never previously finished higher than ninth at an Olympic Games. Here, on the biggest stage, she finally delivered, threading the needle between Xu's dominance and China's depth to deny what would have been a remarkable Chinese podium sweep.

"My fourth Olympics — I didn't even know if I was going to be here. It's been a lot of heartbreak over the years, and I always knew I was capable, but I was never able to do it at the right time. To finally have this (medal) around my neck is massive. It's a childhood dream come true." added Danielle Scott

Her form on the back full-full-full was described as impeccable, though a shaky landing put her more than 10 points behind Xu's winning score. NBC Olympics No matter — for Scott, silver after a lifetime of near-misses tasted every bit as sweet as gold.

Perhaps the most intriguing story of the evening belonged to China's Shao Qi, who claimed bronze with 101.90. Shao was the only woman in the super final who did not attempt a triple, yet her clean execution of the less demanding back lay-full-full was enough to secure a spot on the podium. NBC Olympics In a field where every other competitor was swinging for the fences with triple combinations, the 24-year-old's measured approach paid off brilliantly — a reminder that precision and nerve can sometimes outgun raw ambition.

It was Shao's first Olympic medal Olympics, and it came in the narrowest of margins: compatriot Kong Fanyu, who had actually posted the highest score of the entire first final round at 113.33, finished just 0.59 points behind Shao in fourth place with 101.31. China had sent three athletes into the six-skier super final, and all three finished in the top four — a display of national depth that was staggering even by Chinese aerials standards.

The night's most surprising disappointment was the performance of the United States' Kalia Kuhn, the reigning world champion who arrived in Livigno as one of the most credentialed competitors in the field. Kuhn was briefly in a podium position with two skiers still to jump, but was quickly unseated, finishing fifth with 99.16. Park Record Her teammate Winter Vinecki also stumbled, crossing her skis mid-jump and landing on her back for a score of 90.58 and a sixth-place finish. "I've had better runs than that one," Kuhn said afterward. "But there's a lot to be proud of today." Park Record

Also absent from the medal conversation was Canada's Marion Thenault, the reigning world champion heading into the Games and top qualifier from the earlier rounds. She failed to crack the super final after an untidy jump in the first final netted just 103.89 points — a sharp reminder that in aerials, no lead and no title guarantees anything once the ramp is in front of you.

The event itself had already been touched by drama before a single jump was taken. Heavy snowfall on Tuesday forced the postponement of the qualifiers for both the women's and men's aerials Olympics, compressing the schedule and adding an extra layer of nerves and uncertainty for athletes who had spent years preparing for this moment.

None of that seemed to trouble Xu Mengtao. With 35 World Cup victories to her name and a career stretching back to Sochi 2014, she is a woman who has seen everything the sport can throw at her. On Wednesday, she threw it all back — 20 metres into the Italian sky — and landed, once again, on top of the world.