Eileen Gu’s late brilliance wins home Olympic gold for China in women’s big air

• US-born star takes victory after superb final jump
• Team GB's Kirsty Muir finishes in fifth place

Eileen Gu stood atop the purpose-built ramp, sitting in third place entering the final run of the Olympic women's freestyle big air. The seconds felt like minutes as she embraced her coach and stood in position waiting for the green light. One of the first lean-forward moments of the Beijing Winter Olympics was afoot, the weight of two countries borne squarely on her 18-year-old shoulders. And then she dropped in.

The teenager poised to emerge as the biggest American breakout star of these Games - while competing under the Chinese flag - took flight on a cloudless Tuesday morning along Qunming Lake, soaring to the gold in her Olympic debut and staying on course for an unprecedented hat-trick of medals.