Skier Eileen Gu, an American-born athlete competing for China, stirred up a wave of discussions on social media this week. This came after she reacted to President Donald Trump’s comments about American Olympian Hunter Hess, who expressed mixed feelings about his role in the upcoming Winter Olympics.
As the highest-paid Winter Olympian, earning an impressive $23 million by 2025 through partnerships with both Chinese and Western firms, Gu noted that she represents China as a way to honor her mother, who is originally from China.
Curiously, Gu has remained silent on China’s documented human rights issues, particularly concerning the treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim groups in Xinjiang.
Gu’s remarks included criticism of headlines that seem to overshadow the Olympic spirit. She expressed disappointment that such distractions detract from what the Olympics embody. “Sports should unite people… it’s incredible what we can achieve as athletes,” she mentioned while addressing reporters.
In her statement, Gu mentioned she felt “caught in the crossfire,” perhaps recognizing the tension between her athletic identity and the complex political issues surrounding the Olympics. “I hope they can perform at their best,” she added, reflecting empathy for fellow athletes.
However, her comments did not sit well with many online, sparking backlash. Critics have pointed out her silence regarding China’s human rights record, including former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, who described her as a “traitor” for choosing to compete for China despite her American roots.
In his lengthy post, Kanter emphasized Gu’s decision to represent a government known for human rights violations instead of her home country. He wrote about the contradiction of her silence regarding issues like genocide and political repressions in China.
Michael Sobolik, of the Hudson Institute, echoed these sentiments, suggesting that it’s noteworthy for an American athlete to criticize the U.S. while ignoring serious concerns regarding the Chinese government. He posed a rhetorical question about what her choices say regarding her values.
Republican communications expert Matt Whitlock joined the critique, questioning Gu’s priorities and noting the irony of her comments considering her associations with the Chinese Communist Party.
Moreover, Trump’s remarks about Hess—calling him a “true loser” for his comments about representing the U.S.—also kept him in the spotlight during these Olympics. Hess expressed complicated emotions about his role, revealing a tension that many athletes are grappling with amid current events.
Gu, meanwhile, defended her identity as a competitor, stating, “I feel like I’m representing my friends and family who’ve supported me. Just because I wear the flag doesn’t mean I align with everything happening in America.”
This underlying complexity of how athletes express their national identity, and the related socio-political challenges, continues to resonate throughout the sporting community.
