Eileen Gu Takes a Bad Crash in Practice, Misses Winter X

Eileen Gu of China celebrates on the podium after her victory in the women's World Cup freestyle ski halfpipe event in Calgary, Alberta, on Jan. 21, 2023. Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP

ASPEN, Colo.—Olympic freestyle skiing champion Eileen Gu crashed during practice for the Winter X Games and said she suffered a bad ligament strain in her knee that forced her to miss the contest.

Gu, who took two gold medals and one silver at the Beijing Games last year, posted on social media that she “had a heavy crash” during a practice Friday, Jan. 27, and that results of an MRI showed “a bad MCL sprain, ACL strain and bone bruise.”