San Francisco Celebrates Eileen Gu Despite Backlash

The Olympic medalist's homecoming parade sparks debate over identity and loyalty.

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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Eileen Gu, the decorated Olympic freestyle skier who won medals for China, was celebrated with a hero's welcome during the annual Chinese New Year parade in her hometown of San Francisco. However, Gu's decision to compete for China instead of the United States has sparked backlash from conservatives who have branded her a 'traitor' and 'ungrateful.' The parade itself drew new criticism, highlighting the conflicted feelings among some Chinese Americans about Gu's identity and decision to represent China.

Why it matters

Gu's case has sparked conversations about identity, loyalty, and the complexities of being a Chinese American athlete. Her choice to compete for China, America's main geopolitical rival, has divided opinions and raised questions about how Chinese Americans navigate their dual cultural identities.

The details

During the Chinese New Year parade in San Francisco, Eileen Gu was celebrated as a hometown hero, waving to adoring crowds from a red convertible. However, her Olympic success for China has drawn intense criticism from conservatives, who have accused her of being a 'traitor' and 'ungrateful' for not representing the United States. The parade itself has become a new flashpoint, with some seeing it as an endorsement of Gu's decision and others criticizing San Francisco, a liberal city, for honoring her.

  • Eileen Gu won three medals for China during the Winter Olympics last month.
  • The Chinese New Year parade in San Francisco took place last weekend.

The players

Eileen Gu

A decorated Olympic freestyle skier who won medals for China, her birth country, during the Winter Olympics. Gu was born in the United States but chose to compete for China, sparking a backlash from conservatives.

San Francisco

The liberal city in California that hosted the annual Chinese New Year parade, where Gu was celebrated as a hometown hero despite the controversy surrounding her decision to compete for China.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

Eileen Gu's case highlights the complex and often conflicted feelings among Chinese Americans about identity, loyalty, and navigating dual cultural identities. The debate surrounding her decision to compete for China has sparked important conversations about the nuances of being a Chinese American athlete in the modern era.