Eileen Gu Opens Up About Dealing With Failure

When a fan asked how she deals with “failed performances at competitions (or in general)” during the Q&A session, the Chinese-American Freeski star replied, “[R]esilience looks different for everyone. It’s definitely not a pretty sight, but I’m proud of mine.”

In an interview with Highsnobiety, she said, “There's countless times that I felt like I was so close to getting a trick, but somehow couldn't do it. I am the definition of blood, sweat, and tears. I have cried so many times, not out of pain, but out of frustration.”

Gu recalled a time when she was 15 and competing at her first World Cup.

“I missed out on finals by 1 point after messing up a trick I shouldn’t have,” the athlete recounted during the Q&A. “I got rly mad (do not recommend) and hiked a rail in the public park until I got it 10x in a row. I want to clarify I was upset over my skiing and not the result (I was super hyped to even be there) but I was def crying while I hiked and wouldn’t speak to anyone until I got the trick.”

It was certainly an intense reaction but Gu, who’s a gold medal favorite for China in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing, was wise enough to use that frustration to get positive results.

“What I mean to say is try to channel ur emotions into redeeming yourself and improving upon your failures,” she continued. “And emotions are ok!! It means u care. But hey! I never messed that trick up in a contest ever again. And I got my first World Cup podium immediately after that one.”

The X Games gold medalist has a very sensible attitude towards failure, saying, “Nobody likes failure. But the next time I’m about to call it a day early I try to remind myself of how I felt the last time I was unhappy w a competition result, and usually that memory is enough to spur me into a few more reps.”

She ended the Q&A by tagging fellow ski personalities Jaime Melton, Brad Prosser and Misra Noto, joking that they know “it’s best to stay out of range while I’m rage hiking.”