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Livigno, Italy – Reigning Olympic champion Eileen Gu secured her spot in the women’s freestyle skiing halfpipe final on Thursday, February 16, despite a shaky start that saw her fall on her first run. The 22-year-old, representing China, is aiming for a third medal at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, adding to her silver medals already claimed in slopestyle and big air. Gu’s qualification underscores her historic run at these Games, where she has become the most decorated women’s freestyle skier in history.

The qualification round proved challenging for Gu, who uncharacteristically clipped the lip of the halfpipe during her initial attempt. Despite the fall, she demonstrated resilience and determination, landing a clean second run to secure fifth place with a score of 86.50. This performance ensures she will compete in Saturday’s final, continuing her pursuit of a medal in all three freeski events – slopestyle, halfpipe and big air – a feat no other female skier has accomplished at a single Winter Games.

Gu acknowledged the physical toll of competing in multiple events, stating, “At this point, I’m exhausted.” She also pointed out the unique challenges she faces as a competitor in all three disciplines, noting, “No judge is giving me extra points given that I missed a training. I’m the only one in this field competing in one other event, let alone two, but I still have to compete against the best of this event.” She added that she feels she trains less than her competitors due to her participation in multiple events.

Great Britain’s Zoe Atkin led the qualification round with a score of 91.50, showcasing a commanding performance and securing her place as the top qualifier. The defending world champion and 2026 X Games winner demonstrated impressive height and fluidity in her runs, soaring 5m above the 7m halfpipe. Gu previously defeated Atkin by a narrow margin of 1.5 points to win the 2025-2026 World Cup halfpipe title in December, setting the stage for a compelling final showdown. The Olympic news service reported on Gu’s determination to shift her competitive approach.

Scheduling Concerns and a Grueling Schedule

Gu has previously voiced concerns about the Olympic scheduling, criticizing it as “unfair” and lacking logical flow. The big air final, held on Monday, coincided with a crucial training session for the halfpipe competition, limiting her preparation time. FIS communications director Bruno Sassi acknowledged the complexity of constructing the Olympic competition program in a statement to The Athletic, stating, “Constructing the Olympic competition program is a complex process.”

Sharpe’s Injury and Final Outlook

The qualification round also saw a concerning incident involving 2018 Olympic halfpipe gold medalist Cassie Sharpe of Canada. Sharpe was stretchered off the course after a hard fall during her second run, but she was able to wave to the crowd as she left. Despite the injury, she qualified for the final in third position with a score of 88.25 from her first run.

Gu’s potential to leave the Milan Cortina Games with three medals mirrors her success at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, where she secured two golds and one silver. The women’s freeski halfpipe final is scheduled for Saturday, where competitors will perform three runs, with the best score determining the medalists. Judges evaluate the runs based on the difficulty and execution of tricks, deducting points for falls and errors.

Looking ahead, Gu will have a much-needed day off on Friday before returning to competition for the halfpipe final. As she prepares for her final event, Gu expressed a desire to “lie flat” – a Chinese idiom signifying a require for rest and relaxation – after a demanding Olympic schedule. The final promises to be a thrilling contest, with Gu aiming to add another chapter to her already remarkable Olympic story.

Share your thoughts on Eileen Gu’s performance and the upcoming final in the comments below.

South Korean banks saw a slight easing in corporate funding costs in January, with the benchmark cost of funds index (COFIX) declining for the first time in five months, according to data released by the Bank of Korea on Tuesday. However, this decrease in funding costs has not translated into lower loan rates for consumers, as mortgage rates continue to climb.

The COFIX, which serves as a key determinant for variable-rate mortgages, fell to 2.77% in January, down from 2.89% the previous month. This marks the first decline since September 2025, after four consecutive months of increases. The index reflects the weighted average interest rates on funds procured by domestic banks, including deposits, bonds, and other sources.

The decrease in COFIX is largely attributed to a reduction in deposit rates offered by banks. NH NongHyup Bank lowered the interest rate on its one-year fixed deposit to 2.9% in January, from 3% previously. 3% interest rates on fixed deposits have disappeared from the offerings of the five major banks – KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori, and NH NongHyup.

Despite the lower COFIX, variable-rate mortgage rates offered by the five major banks have actually risen. As of February 19, 2026, these rates ranged from 3.65% to 6.05%, up from 3.77% to 5.87% a month earlier. Fixed-rate mortgage rates have also increased, moving from a range of 3.91% to 6.21% to 4.18% to 6.78% over the same period.

Banking officials attribute the divergence between falling funding costs and rising mortgage rates to a combination of factors. A bank official, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained that reduced demand for loans, coupled with expectations of rising market interest rates, has led to a more cautious lending approach. “The need for funds decreased compared to the end of last year, which influenced the lowering of deposit rates, impacting the COFIX,” the official said. “The strengthening of regulations on household loans at the beginning of the year, combined with a conservative lending approach, has reduced the availability of funds.”

Market interest rates are also being influenced by expectations surrounding potential interest rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve. The yield on South Korea’s three-year government bond rose from 2.950% at the end of last year to 3.140% on February 13, 2026. Similarly, the five-year government bond yield, which serves as a benchmark for fixed-rate mortgages, increased from 3.499% to 3.687% during the same period.

Banks anticipate that the upward trend in mortgage rates will likely continue in the near term, given the limited incentives for banks to engage in competitive funding. Another banking source noted that the possibility of a U.S. Federal Reserve rate increase further contributes to market volatility. “There is not much incentive for banks to strengthen funding competition, so the volatility of the COFIX is expected to be limited,” the source stated.

In response to the rising mortgage rates, South Korean financial authorities are considering the introduction of ultra-long-term fixed-rate mortgage products with terms of up to 30 years. Currently, most fixed-rate mortgages offered by banks have a fixed-rate period of five years, after which the rate is adjusted or reset every five years.