Eileen Gu Responds to J.D. Vance’s Criticism

Eileen Gu, the American-born Olympic skier who competes for China, has pushed back against comments made by Vice President J.D. Vance. Vance stated, “If you grew up in America and benefited from the freedoms and educational system that makes this country such a great place, you want to compete against America. I’m going to be rooting for American athletes, and I think some of them are people who identify as American.”

During a recent interview with Fox News host Martha McCollum, Vance mentioned Gu, attributing her decision to compete for China as contentious. Gu’s response was gracious: “It’s an honor. Thank you, JD! You’re so kind,” she said in remarks to USA Today.

In light of Vance’s remarks, Gu expressed her feelings about being perceived as a target in American political discourse. “So many athletes are competing on behalf of different countries…People seem to have an issue with me because they view China as a single entity and hold negative perceptions about the country.” She emphasized that differing opinions don’t really affect her.

Although Gu generally avoids discussing politics, it’s noted that she does speak on topics such as abortion and Black Lives Matter, but remains silent on China’s human rights issues. That’s a tricky area, especially given that China is a significant competitor on the global stage.

Gu added, “If I hadn’t performed well, I think perhaps people wouldn’t care as much, and that’s fine by me. Everyone has the right to their opinion.”

Indeed, while Americans have the freedom to express their views, it’s interesting to note that in places like China, where Gu has been since 2019, the landscape is very different.

At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Gu secured two gold medals and one silver. Recently, she earned two silver medals at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics and is eyeing a medal in the freestyle skiing halfpipe this Saturday.

When asked how she views her recent accomplishments—whether she sees them as “winning two silver medals or losing two gold medals”—Gu laughed. “I’m the most decorated female freeskier in history, so I think that speaks volumes,” she said. “Winning a medal at the Olympics is life-changing for every athlete, and to do it five times is exponentially more difficult.”