{
  "id": 5021230,
  "title": "Olympic skier Eileen Gu says staying at the top is harder than winning",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/olympic-skier-eileen-gu-says-staying-at-the-top-is-harder-than-winning",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-02T04:49:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/eileen-gu-competition-mindset-training-mantra-olympic-freestyle-skier-2026-9"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Olympic freestyle skiing star Eileen Gu has revealed that maintaining her position at the top is more challenging than actually winning medals. Speaking on the On Purpose podcast, the 22-year-old athlete shared her mantra, which helps her stay focused and avoid becoming complacent. Gu said she trains with the mindset of never having won, and competes as if she's never lost. This approach keeps her hungry and allows her to perform consistently. However, Gu also explained that her intense training regimen can lead to self-criticism, where she finds fault with every minor mistake. To counter this, she adopts a competitive mindset during competitions, telling herself she is the best skier ever and that nobody can touch her. This dual approach, she said, helps her stay sane amidst the pressure.",
  "summary": "\"It's only when I compete. I'm like, OK, alter ego. Go time,\" Eileen Gu said.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}