Eileen Gu, American-Born Skier, Competes for China

Explaining the dual citizenship of the 22-year-old freestyle skiing star

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Eileen Gu, a 22-year-old freestyle skier, was born and raised in the United States but now competes for China. Gu has strong ties to both countries due to her parents' nationalities - her father is American and her mother is a first-generation Chinese immigrant. Although China does not allow dual citizenship, Gu has been able to live and compete in both the U.S. and China with ease. She began representing China in 2019 and has since won multiple medals, including two gold medals at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

Why it matters

Gu's decision to compete for China has drawn scrutiny, with questions raised about a document that listed millions in Chinese government funding for her training. Her dual citizenship and ability to represent both countries highlights the complexities of international sports and the fluidity of national identity in a globalized world.

The details

Gu was born in San Francisco and spent her summers living in China, where she was exposed to the culture. She competed for Team USA during the 2018-19 freestyle ski World Cup season but requested a change of nation with the International Ski Federation in June 2019 to start representing China. Gu has said that although she grew up in America, she describes herself as both American and Chinese. While representing China, Gu has won three Olympic medals, including two golds, as well as two World Championship medals and three Winter X Games gold medals.

  • Gu competed for Team USA during the 2018-19 freestyle ski World Cup season.
  • In June 2019, Gu requested a change of nation with the International Ski Federation to start representing China.
  • Gu won two gold medals for China at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
  • Gu is currently a freshman at Stanford University, taking time off during the 2025-26 academic year to prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

The players

Eileen Gu

A 22-year-old freestyle skier who was born in the United States but now competes for China, where her mother is from. Gu has won multiple Olympic and World Championship medals while representing China.

Gu Yan

Eileen Gu's mother, who is a first-generation Chinese immigrant to the United States. Gu was raised primarily by her mother and maternal grandmother.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Since I was little, I've always said when I'm in the U.S., I'm American, but when I'm in China, I'm Chinese. I preserve it by having friends and being able to communicate with people because that's the best way to transmit culture.”

— Eileen Gu (ESPN)

What’s next

Gu is expected to compete for China again at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, where she will look to defend her Olympic gold medals.

The takeaway

Eileen Gu's dual citizenship and ability to represent both the United States and China in international competition highlights the complexities of national identity in a globalized world. Her success has drawn scrutiny, but also showcases the fluidity of identity and the opportunities available to athletes with multicultural backgrounds.