Eileen Gu, an American-born skier representing China in the upcoming 2026 Olympic Winter Games, has openly voiced her support for abortion. She expressed her concerns during the Aspen Ideas Festival in 2022, following the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade. Gu remarked on the impact of unwanted pregnancies—specifically, the strain it would put on the careers of young female athletes like herself.
Gu stated, “Nine percent of abortions are teenagers, and when I consider my friends and young female athletes, the idea of taking time off for an unwanted pregnancy is absolutely devastating.” It’s clear that the pressures of a nine-month pregnancy and the responsibilities of motherhood can be quite daunting. Still, it’s interesting to note that Gu doesn’t seem to consider the effects of abortion on the children involved.
That said, giving birth isn’t necessarily a career-ending move for athletes. As NBC News reported, this year’s Olympics will feature nine mothers competing for Team USA. For instance, Elana Meyers Taylor and Kaillie Humphries, both over 40 and both moms, secured medals in the women’s monobob competition, with Humphries taking home bronze and Taylor winning gold.
Humphries remarked on the prevailing myths about age and motherhood in sports, stating, “All those haters that say once you’re 40 you’re over the hill, or once you’re a mom, you can’t be back on top of the podium—that’s not true.” Taylor called her win a pinnacle moment in her career, emphasizing how special it was to achieve it while raising her children.
On another note, Tabitha Peterson, a 36-year-old curler and mother, led the U.S. women’s curling team to victory over China. Her sister, also a mother, was part of the team as well. Meanwhile, Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida, who won two gold medals and welcomed her son Tommaso in 2023, highlighted that women can balance family life with athletic pursuits given the right support.
Lollobrigida expressed her contentment, saying, “I’m at peace. I got whatever I want. My next goal is just to have another baby.” She even mentioned her federation’s encouragement to have another child before returning to training.
Amidst these inspiring stories, Gu’s perspective feels rather narrow. During the panel discussion, she reflected on the Supreme Court’s decision and its effects on women’s sports, expressing her dismay about regulations regarding her body, which she described as her primary focus. This emphasis on her own career overshadowed the potential life of a fetus, and one might wonder why more traditional forms of birth control aren’t considered as options for prevention.
