Gu Ailing's return off to flying start as superstar shakes off injury fears

Not even her mom's plea to play it safe could hold Gu Ailing back from doing what she does best as the freeski superstar returned to the Olympic venue where her global fame took off.

Despite riding with pain in her right shoulder caused by a fall in training last month, Gu went all out on Thursday in her first competition in China since winning two gold medals at Beijing 2022.

The 20-year-old stomped two qualification runs in style to secure a spot in Saturday's final of the 2023-24 halfpipe World Cup season opener at Genting Resort in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province.