Olympic Skier Eileen Gu Shares Criticism Experience

Olympic freestyle skier Eileen Gu expressed feeling like a “punching bag” for critics after choosing to represent China at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, rather than the U.S.

Her comments came in response to Vice President J.D. Vance’s statement suggesting that American-born athletes desire to “compete with America.”

Interestingly, Vance didn’t specifically name Gu, yet she acknowledged his remarks with appreciation, saying, “It’s an honor. Thank you, JD! That’s wonderful.”

Gu echoed the sentiment of being a punching bag, explaining, “Yes, so many athletes compete for different countries… The issue people have with me is that they often view China as a single entity and harbor dislike towards it. So, their issue isn’t really with me.”

She believes that if she hadn’t won, the criticism might not have been as intense. “People are entitled to their opinions,” she added, implying a degree of acceptance toward the backlash.

This month, Gu is also attempting to reshape her narrative. She stated that she was “assaulted” and “robbed” while studying at Stanford University in California in 2022 and mentioned encountering “hate” upon her announcement to compete for China during the Beijing Games.

Interestingly, she hasn’t discussed these experiences since her rise to international prominence in 2022, and a media investigation did not substantiate her claims from Stanford.

While Gu is critical of the United States, she refrains from negative comments about China, her mother’s homeland. Recently, she opted not to comment on China’s treatment of the Uyghur minority, asserting, “I’m not an expert on this. I haven’t investigated it. I don’t think it’s my job.”

In contrast, she has voiced criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump. This came after Team USA freestyle skier Hunter Hess mentioned the challenges of donning Team USA gear. Hess commented that while there’s “a lot going on” in the U.S., the country isn’t necessarily its “biggest fan.”