Eileen Gu Wins Gold for Third Medal of Beijing Winter Olympics

Eileen Gu, China's new idol, earned gold in the freeski halfpipe on Friday, Feb. 18, giving her a total of three medals at the Beijing Olympics.

The 18-year-old has also won gold and silver in two additional competitions, making her the first inpidual in the Winter Olympics to win three medals in different freestyle skiing disciplines.

The skier, who was born in California, is a member of China's squad.

Gu took first place with a 93.25 first-run score.

On her second attempt, she increased her advantage to 95.25.

She had the championship locked up before she even began her third and final race.

She congratulated her instructors at the top of the halfpipe before descending with a comfortable and joyful victory lap to finish her victorious Beijing Olympics run.

Cassie Sharpe of Canada got silver with 90.75 points, while Rachael Karker of Canada took bronze with 87.75 points.

Gu revealed after qualifying on Feb. 17 that her grandmother would be watching her ski for the first time in the final.

Gu predicted that her grandmother would be "unfazed and unimpressed" by the attention lavished on her famous grandchild.

On Thursday evening, she shared photos of the two wearing sunglasses and posing with Gu's Olympic medals on Instagram..

Gu has made more than US$30 million in endorsement deals alone.