A springboard whose structure is installed in the heart of Beijing's industrial wasteland, between chimneys, blast furnaces and cooling towers of a former steelworks.

And 100% industrial snow.

It was in this very “good atmosphere” of the Winter Games that Frenchwoman Tess Ledeux saw Eileen Gu, the Chinese star who grew up in the United States, narrowly beat her for the debut of Big Air skiing at the Games. Beijing Olympics on Tuesday in the heart of the Shougang industrial zone.


Directed by:

Olivier JUSZCZAK

  • A striking contrast, a 60m long springboard installed in a former industrial area of ​​Beijing.

  • This former steel zone founded in 1919 has become the new “Shougang Park”.

  • It housed 65,000 employees in this industrial sector.

  • The city of Beijing decided to move its steel activities to another location when it won the organization of the 2008 Summer Olympics.

  • In 2016, the organizing committee for the 2022 Winter Olympics came to settle in this area.

  • And even though the neighborhood has been rehabilitated, the chimneys and the buildings have remained.

  • The "Big Air" ski jump is made entirely of artificial snow.

  • This set produces surprising shots!

    Athletes perform acrobatic tricks in the air in an industrial wasteland setting.

  • It was in this setting that Frenchwoman Tess Ledeux saw Eileen Gu, the Chinese star who grew up in the United States, narrowly beat her to the debut of Big Air skiing at the Beijing Olympics.

  • Tess Ledeux, 20, remained until the last of the three passages of the final the only woman to have succeeded in competition in the "double cork 1620", a rotation of four and a half laps.

    Attempted successfully at the start, it brought him 94.50 points.

  • But Eileen Gu had not said her last word.

    And the young Californian who chose to represent China, aged 18, did as well as the Frenchwoman by succeeding in turn, and for the very first time, a "double cork 1620" for her last run.

  • It also earned him 94.50 points.

  • A first figure rewarded with 93.75 points (right double 1440) allowed him to dislodge Tess Ledeux from first place on the wire, for less than one point (188.25 against 187.50).

    Swiss Mathilde Gremaud placed third (182.50).

  • “First I said to myself that I could have won points on my last trick, so I was disappointed.

    Then I said to myself it's just incredible what is happening, you have an Olympic medal, you are Olympic vice-champion!

    “declared the French crowned world champion in slopestyle (a ski course full of metal obstacles and jumps) in 2017, at the age of 15, and in Big Air in 2019, and who had the pain of losing her father. one year ago.

  • “Tess inspired me so much.

    I told her after the competition that I would not have attempted (this jump) if she had not raised our sport to this level, ”said Olympic champion Eileen Gu.

    They will meet again in the slopestyle event which is scheduled for next Monday.

  • China

  • Slideshow

  • Environment

  • Winter Olympics 2022

  • Sport

  • Tess Ledeux