Eileen Gu Celebrates Alysa Liu's Olympic Gold Medal

The two Chinese American stars have been compared and contrasted on social media this Olympics.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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American-born Team China skier Eileen Gu commented on Team USA figure skater Alysa Liu's historic gold medal in the women's free skate final at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Liu became the first American women's figure skater to win an individual Olympic medal in 20 years and the first to win a gold in 24 years. Gu, who chose to compete for Team China in 2019, celebrated Liu's victory on social media.

Why it matters

The two Chinese American athletes have been the subject of intense scrutiny and comparison on social media, with many fans and critics highlighting the contrast between Liu's story as a tale of American loyalty and Gu's decision to compete for Team China despite living in California.

The details

After Liu won the gold medal, she made a celebratory Instagram post, and Gu commented on the post, writing 'YESSSSSS' to celebrate Liu's victory. Both athletes are the children of immigrants who came to the U.S. from China, but their paths diverged in 2019 when the Chinese government launched a program to recruit foreign-born athletes, primarily with Chinese heritage, to boost competitiveness. Gu traded in her red, white and blue for red and gold, while the Lius remained loyal to Team USA.

  • On Thursday, Alysa Liu won the gold medal in the women's free skate final at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
  • In 2019, Eileen Gu requested a change of nation with the International Ski Federation to compete for China, just months after competing for the U.S. in her first Freestyle Ski World Cup.

The players

Eileen Gu

An American-born Team China skier who won two gold medals and one silver in freeskiing at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Alysa Liu

A Team USA figure skater who won the gold medal in the women's free skate final at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, becoming the first American women's figure skater to win an individual Olympic medal in 20 years and the first to win a gold in 24 years.

Arthur Liu

The father of Alysa Liu who raised her and her siblings in Oakland and remained loyal to Team USA.

Yan Gu

The mother of Eileen Gu who raised her in San Francisco.

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What they’re saying

“YESSSSSS”

— Eileen Gu (Instagram)

The takeaway

The contrasting stories of Eileen Gu and Alysa Liu, two Chinese American athletes who have taken different paths in their Olympic careers, have sparked intense debate and comparison on social media. Their journeys highlight the complex issues of national identity, loyalty, and the global competition for athletic talent.