Irene Gu has found herself at the center of a contentious debate for her choice to represent China instead of the United States.
Born in San Francisco, Gu made the decision to compete for China back in 2019 and has continued to defend her choice, especially as the Olympics approached. Her mother, originally from China, completed her master’s degree there.
This choice has sparked considerable backlash online and in the media. Recently, Gu has revealed that some reactions have become extreme, including incidents like being “physically assaulted on the street.”
“The police were involved. I faced death threats. My dormitory was even robbed,” Gu explained to The Athletic. She added that her experiences at 22 were something no one should have to go through.
Vice President J.D. Vance expressed his hopes on Fox News Channel that an American-born athlete would want to represent the U.S.
“If you grew up in the United States and benefited from the education system and freedoms, you would want to compete for America,” he shared during an interview.
Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom took it a step further, labeling Gu a “traitor.” He has been vocal about his criticism of the NBA regarding China’s alleged human rights violations.
“She was born and raised in America, yet chose to represent China, which has a terrible human rights record,” Freedom remarked. He also drew parallels between her and other athletes who avoid discussing China’s practices, like LeBron James.
Despite all this, Gu stands out as the most decorated female Olympic freestyle skier in history. Still, she only managed to win two silver medals in Milan, falling short of her previous performance in Beijing where she claimed two golds.
