Eileen Gu’s Large Funding Revealed and Withdrawn
American-born Olympian Eileen Gu secured an impressive amount from China in 2025, but her extraordinary earnings were briefly highlighted in public records before officials quickly redacted her name.
The freestyle skiing star, representing China, received a remarkable $6.6 million in support from the Beijing Sports Bureau last year. It appears this substantial sum was shared with fellow American-born Olympic figure skater Zhu Yi, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Yi, having renounced his American citizenship, also competes while waving the Chinese flag.
Financial documents indicate that these elite athletes were poised to receive around $14 million, or nearly 100 million yuan, from the bureau over three years.
This latest funding is linked to their qualifications for the 2026 Winter Olympics, according to the newspaper.
The startling figures came to light when both Gu and Yi were mistakenly listed in China’s budget proposal for early 2025.
Following the error, officials removed their names, but the revelation of such vast cash transfers stirred discontent among financially strained Chinese citizens, leading to a disappearance of complaints on social media, per the report.
It’s not clear how much each athlete received from the total amount, but the hefty payout only adds to Gu’s substantial earnings.
At just 22 years old, Gu, who had a contentious decision to represent China at the 2022 Winter Olympics, made around $23 million from endorsements, in addition to approximately $100,000 from competitions.
The two-time gold and silver medalist earned about $40,000 for her performances, which include competitions scheduled in January and December 2025.
She also won $55,000 from her top finish in the Snow League Event 2: China Freeski Halfpipe event last December.
According to Forbes, Gu’s endorsements list includes high-end brands like Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton, and she is associated with companies such as Porsche and Red Bull.
Gu made her Olympic debut in Beijing four years prior, where she triumphed in women’s freeski big air and halfpipe and secured a silver in slopestyle.
Looking ahead, the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games will mark her second Olympic appearance where she aims to continue her impressive streak.
