Two-time Olympic gold medalist and freestyle skiing star Eileen Gu will once again represent China instead of the U.S. at the upcoming Winter Olympics. She believes the U.S. “already has representation rights,” despite facing criticism for her choice.
Born in California, Gu dealt with backlash when she decided to ski for China during the Beijing Olympics in 2022. However, she still secured gold medals in women’s freeski big air and halfpipe, along with a silver in slopestyle.
In a conversation with Time magazine, Gu reflected on her choice, emphasizing that she wants to promote a sport that hasn’t been very popular in China. “The United States already has representation rights,” she noted, adding, “I like building my own pond.”
She also pointed out that there’s more financial potential in representing Chinese companies. “I’m glad there’s enough funding in the sport now that people think it should be considered,” she mentioned.
Gu, whose mother is Chinese, grew up in San Francisco but estimates that she has spent about a quarter of her life in China prior to the 2022 Olympics. This has led to discussions about her citizenship status, as China does not recognize dual citizenship, which would require her to renounce her U.S. citizenship. She previously sidestepped questions regarding her feelings about having U.S. citizenship.
Time remarked on Gu’s response to citizenship inquiries, noting she said she didn’t see it as relevant, and added there was no clear evidence that she had renounced her U.S. citizenship.
At 22, Gu is expected to be a frontrunner in Italy to defend her title. Just last week, she won the Laax Open in Switzerland, marking her 20th career World Cup victory and her fourth in slopestyle.
