Eileen Gu Alleges Assault, Robbery at Stanford Over China Decision

The Olympic freestyle skier claims she faced backlash on campus after announcing she would compete for China.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Eileen Gu, the US-born Olympic freestyle skier who chose to compete for China, is alleging she was "physically assaulted," "robbed," and faced "hate" from others at Stanford University in 2022 after announcing her decision to represent China. However, school officials did not corroborate Gu's claims when questioned about the alleged incidents.

Why it matters

Gu's decision to abandon the US team and compete for China has been controversial, with many criticizing her for the move. These new allegations of assault and harassment add to the scrutiny she has faced, though the lack of confirmation from Stanford raises questions about the validity of her claims.

The details

According to Gu, the alleged incidents occurred in 2022 when she was a student at Stanford. She told The Athletic that she was "physically assaulted on the street" and that the "police were called." Gu also said she received "death threats" and that her "dorm was robbed." However, Stanford officials did not substantiate Gu's claims when contacted by the San Francisco Chronicle.

  • Gu alleges the incidents occurred in 2022 when she was a student at Stanford.

The players

Eileen Gu

A US-born Olympic freestyle skier who chose to compete for China, earning two silver medals at the 2022 Winter Games in Milan, Italy.

Stanford University

The California university where Gu was a student in 2022 when the alleged incidents occurred.

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What they’re saying

“Physically assaulted on the street. The police were called.”

— Eileen Gu (The Athletic)

“I've had death threats. I've had my dorm robbed.”

— Eileen Gu (The Athletic)

The takeaway

Gu's allegations of assault and harassment at Stanford raise further questions about the backlash she has faced for her decision to compete for China rather than the US. However, the lack of confirmation from the university casts doubt on the validity of her claims, underscoring the ongoing controversy surrounding Gu's Olympic allegiance.