Eileen Gu, China's Olympic Freestyle Skiing Star, Defends Silver Medals

The 22-year-old athlete has faced backlash for competing for China instead of the US, but continues to shine on the slopes.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Eileen Gu, the 22-year-old freestyle skiing sensation, has captured global attention at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The San Francisco native, who competes for China, has already won two silver medals and is set to compete in the women's halfpipe event. Gu has faced criticism for her decision to represent China over the US, where she was born and raised, but she has defended her choice and spoken out against the backlash she has faced, including death threats and having her dorm robbed. Off the slopes, Gu is also a successful model, having signed with IMG Models and earning over $23 million in 2025 through endorsements and modeling gigs.

Why it matters

Gu's decision to compete for China has sparked a heated debate about national identity, athlete compensation, and the role of politics in sports. Her success on the slopes and her outspoken responses to the criticism have made her a polarizing figure, but also a trailblazer who is challenging traditional notions of what it means to be a multi-talented athlete in the modern era.

The details

Eileen Gu was born in San Francisco to a Chinese mother and has chosen to represent China in international competition, despite being raised in the US. This decision has drawn significant backlash, with some accusing her of betraying her American roots. Gu has defended her choice, saying she wanted to increase the visibility of the sport in China and have a greater impact there than in the US. Reports have also surfaced that Gu and fellow American-born figure skater Beverly Zhu were offered millions of dollars by the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau to compete for China. Gu has faced physical assaults, death threats, and having her dorm robbed as a result of the controversy. Despite the criticism, Gu has continued to excel on the slopes, winning two silver medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics and becoming the most decorated female freestyle skier in Olympic history.

  • Gu signed with IMG Models in early 2021, just before her Olympic debut at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
  • Gu made $23.1 million in 2025, the majority of which came from lucrative endorsement deals.
  • Gu won two silver medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

The players

Eileen Gu

A 22-year-old freestyle skiing superstar who has competed for China in the 2026 Winter Olympics, despite being born and raised in the United States. She has faced significant backlash for her decision to represent China over the US.

Beverly Zhu

An American-born figure skater who, like Gu, was reportedly offered millions of dollars by the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau to compete for China.

JD Vance

The Vice President who has criticized Gu for her decision to compete for China instead of the US.

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What they’re saying

“In the U.S. growing up, I had so many idols to look up to. But in China, I feel like there are a lot fewer of those. I'd have a much greater impact in China than in the U.S., and that's ultimately why I made my decision.”

— Eileen Gu (The Athletic)

“I've had death threats. I've had my dorm robbed. I've gone through some things as a 22-year-old that I really think no one should ever have to endure, ever.”

— Eileen Gu (The Athletic)

“I'm the most decorated female freeskier in history. I think that's an answer in and of itself. Winning a medal at the Olympics is a life-changing experience for every athlete. Doing it five times is exponentially harder because every medal is equally hard for me, but everybody else's expectations rise, right? So, 'the two medals lost' situation, to be quite frank with you, I think is kind of a ridiculous perspective to take. I'm showcasing my best skiing. I'm doing things that quite literally have never been done before. And so I think that is more than good enough, but thank you.”

— Eileen Gu (Yahoo)

What’s next

Gu will compete in the women's halfpipe event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, with the qualifying round kicking off on Feb. 19 and the final taking place on Feb. 21.

The takeaway

Eileen Gu's success and outspoken responses to criticism have made her a polarizing figure, but also a trailblazer who is challenging traditional notions of what it means to be a multi-talented athlete in the modern era. Her decision to compete for China over the US has sparked a heated debate about national identity, athlete compensation, and the role of politics in sports.