ESPN Celebrated Olympian Eileen Gu After She Fled U.S. for Red China

The freestyle skier was named ESPN's 'Breakout Athlete of the Year' in 2022 despite competing for China instead of Team USA.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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Eileen Gu, a U.S.-born Olympic skier, announced at age 15 that she would compete for China, the country of her mother's birth, rather than the United States. In 2022, ESPN named Gu its 'Breakout Athlete of the Year' despite her decision to turn her back on Team USA in favor of the Chinese team, which reportedly paid her millions of dollars in a public sponsorship deal.

Why it matters

Gu's decision to compete for China over the U.S. has been controversial, with some criticizing her for abandoning her home country in pursuit of lucrative sponsorship deals from the Chinese government. Her award from ESPN has also been seen as a questionable decision, given Gu's rejection of the U.S. team.

The details

Gu, who was born in California, announced at age 15 that she would begin training to compete for China in the Olympics. In 2022, she fulfilled that pledge and officially joined Team China. That same year, ESPN named Gu its 'Breakout Athlete of the Year,' despite her decision to turn her back on the U.S. team. Reports indicate that the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau was set to pay Gu and another U.S.-born athlete, Zhu Yi, a combined $6.6 million, though the records were quickly deleted.

  • In 2022, Eileen Gu was named ESPN's 'Breakout Athlete of the Year'.
  • At age 15, Gu announced she would compete for China in the Olympics.

The players

Eileen Gu

A U.S.-born Olympic skier who chose to compete for China, the country of her mother's birth, rather than the United States.

ESPN

The sports media network that named Eileen Gu its 'Breakout Athlete of the Year' in 2022, despite her decision to compete for China instead of Team USA.

Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau

The Chinese government agency that reportedly planned to pay Eileen Gu and another U.S.-born athlete, Zhu Yi, a combined $6.6 million in a sponsorship deal.

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What they’re saying

“Gu didn't merely choose China because of her mother, granted. She also chose China because the genocidal communist nation literally showered her with millions of dollars and hundreds of sponsorship deals as a payoff for having publicly spurned the U.S.A.”

— Warner Todd Huston, Author (Breitbart)

“Gu has defended her decision to compete for China, saying that fewer young girls in China are interested in skiing and the U.S. 'already has the representation' in the field. So, she wanted to inspire Chinese girls to try the sport.”

— Warner Todd Huston, Author (Breitbart)

The takeaway

Eileen Gu's decision to compete for China over the United States, despite being born in California, has been controversial and seen by some as a betrayal of her home country. Her lucrative sponsorship deal with the Chinese government and ESPN's decision to honor her as its 'Breakout Athlete of the Year' have further fueled the debate around her choice.