China's defending champion Gu Ailing earned silver in the women's freestyle skiing big air final at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Monday, marking a strong return to the discipline after a four-year absence from international competitions.

The 22-year-old, who had not contested a major women's big air event since claiming gold at Beijing 2022, finished with 179.00 points, just 1.75 behind the winner, Megan Oldham of Canada.

"The expectations were – I wouldn't say low, but I was just trying to take it one step at a time, going into my first big air competition in four years – and just go out there and ski and see what happens," Gu said.

The silver was her second at this edition of the Games after last week's slopestyle runner-up finish, further bolstering the country's medal haul on the opening day of the Chinese New Year.

"I'm so happy," she added. "Today is the first day of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Horse, and I hope everyone has a great year and success in everything they do."

The competition at the Livigno Snow Park was delayed by more than an hour, due to strong winds and heavy snow, before the final officially got underway.

Gu opened with a strong run that garnered 90.00 points, but slipped slightly upon landing for 61.25 on her second attempt. She then responded calmly under pressure, scoring 89.00 points in the final round.

The big air silver bumps Gu's personal haul to five Winter Olympics medals, the most by any woman in freestyle skiing history. She is also set to compete later this week in her signature event, the halfpipe.

"I'm really happy to have these medals," Gu noted. "But each one feels harder to earn than the last."

Oldham, who placed fourth at Beijing 2022, won gold with scores of 91.75 and 89.00 points on her first two runs. The victory marks her second medal at the Games, following a bronze in the slopestyle.

"It feels incredible. It's been such a dream of mine," the 24-year-old said. "I'm so proud of myself for being able to come out here and land the tricks that I wanted tonight, and to show my best skiing and just make Canada proud."

Italy's Flora Tabanelli delighted the home crowd by taking bronze, highlighted by a competition-best 94.25 on her final run.

China's Liu Mengting finished in seventh place in her Olympic debut.

Switzerland's Mathilde Gremaud, the Beijing 2022 big air bronze medalist and Milano Cortina 2026 slopestyle champion, withdrew from the final after crashing in the warm-ups and sustaining a hip injury.