FIS World Cup: Xu Mengtao, Eileen Gu snare titles as Chinese athletes dominate the slopes
Sun Jiaxu pulls off shock victory in men’s skiing competition as Olympic champion Xu wins with hardest trick, while Gu wins snowboard gold
Chinese athletes dominated the FIS Freestyle World Cup in Lake Placid on Saturday, winning gold in the women’s aerial while five of the country’s skier in the men’s event occupied the top six spots.
Four-time Olympic medallist skier Xu Mengtao won World Cup gold when she pulled off a back double full-full – the hardest trick to land in the women’s field – to score her a 95.52 in the super-final.
Reigning world champion Australian Danielle Scott was in second with 95.17 and Canada’s Marion Thenault scored 90.94 for third.
“It’s amazing. Six years ago, I also won here. I’m very excited. Lake Placid is my lucky place,” the 35-year-old Xu said.
The most decorated aerialist in history, Xu has seven world championship medals and 30 World Cup victories alongside her Winter Olympics glory.
In the men’s competition, Sun Jiaxu, who finished 15th last season, pulled off the shock of the competition so far, when the 25-year-old completed a risky back full-double full-double full that earned him a score of 136.17.
