Irene Gu’s Post-Olympic Fashion Adventure in Milan

After the 2026 Winter Olympics wrapped up, Olympic freestyle skier Irene Gu decided to stay in Milan to take part in Milan Fashion Week, which runs from February 24 to March 2.

The talented athlete, who snagged two silver medals and a gold medal at the Olympics, expressed her excitement about her “other job” and shared some of her plans while in Italy’s fashion capital.

“It’s fashion week in Milan. I have another job and I do other fashion things,” she mentioned in a chat about her upcoming activities.

Irene seemed really eager to explore different creative avenues, saying, “I’m excited to get innovative and express my femininity through fashion. It’s a passion of mine, and I think it’s interesting to contrast that with my skiing career.” She hopes to perfectly blend both worlds during the upcoming week.

Despite having grown up in Northern California and being a Stanford University student, the 22-year-old has attracted some controversy over her choice to represent China at the Olympics instead of the U.S.

Now holding three silver and three gold medals from two Olympics, plus a remarkable 20 World Cup victories, she’s already notably distinguished in freestyle skiing.

Gu shared, “Right now, I feel young and healthy. My body is as capable as it will be decades from now. So, it makes perfect sense for me to pursue these new paths: merging fashion, sport, and skiing.”

She wasted no time once in Milan, stepping out in a striking white silk gown paired with a leather jacket.

Signed with IMG, Gu, is set to model for the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. She’s also associated with high-profile brands like Louis Vuitton, Victoria’s Secret, Fendi, Gucci, and Tiffany & Co., gracing the covers of various magazines including Cosmopolitan, Elle, GQ, and Harper’s Bazaar.

In a recent conversation, Gu revealed her experiences of being “physically assaulted” and receiving death threats while at Stanford, tied to her contentious decision to represent her mother’s country, China, at the 2019 Olympics. She recalled a particularly alarming incident at age 15 when she was attacked for not representing the U.S. during the 2022 Beijing Olympics.