Gu wins China's first halfpipe gold at Freeski World Championships

WASHINGTON - Gu Ailing overcame an injury to her right hand to claim China's first-ever gold medal at the FIS Freeski World Championships in Aspen on Friday.

Gu, who finished seventh in Wednesday's qualification, posted a leading score of 93.00 points with her high-quality jumps in the first run on Friday, and no other skiers could match her score throughout the competition. She maintained her level in the next two runs to register 92.50 and 89.00 points.

The 17-year-old Chinese Freeski prodigy claimed the country's first gold medal in the halfpipe event in her debut at the biennial tournament.

After finishing atop the standings in qualification, Gu will also participate in the slopestyle final on Saturday.

Canada's Rachael Karker bagged the silver medal with 91.75 points in her third run. British skier Zoe Atkin finished third with 90.50 points.

Nico Porteous from New Zealand won the men's event with 94.50 points. Canada's Simon D Artois and Birk Irving from the United States ranked second and third respectively.