China’s 2026 Winter Olympics Delegation

The People’s Republic of China has announced a 126-member delegation for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics, marking the largest team in the country’s history for winter competitions abroad. They will head to Italy to participate in 15 different sports.

Among those representing China is a promising gold medal contender who began his Olympic aspirations at just nine years old, initially aiming for a place on Team USA.

This athlete, Eileen Gu, was born in San Francisco in 2003. She is the daughter of Yang Gu, who emigrated from China to the U.S., and an American father. Yang, a former short track speed skater and a graduate of Peking University with a master’s degree in chemical engineering, moved back to the U.S. to attend Stanford Business School, raising Eileen as a single mother.

Gu started skiing competitively at Lake Tahoe and joined the Northstar California Resort freeski team at the tender age of eight. By nine, she had already clinched her first national championship title.

In a conversation with a magazine, Gu expressed that those formative years were essential for her bond with her mother. Weekends were often spent traveling the four hours to Tahoe for training, a commitment that she believes strengthened their relationship.

Gu also dedicated her summers to studying math in Beijing. “My mom always said that ten days of classes in China equals a year’s worth in the U.S.,” she remarked, recalling her time at a tutoring center in Beijing. It was during one of those summers that she learned about the 2022 Winter Olympics, which would be hosted in her mother’s homeland.

Excited about the games, Gu told her mother she was determined to compete, expressing her gratitude in Chinese.

When the 2022 Olympics arrived, Gu indeed participated, but as a member of the Chinese national team, which created a bit of a stir. After starting out representing the United States and achieving rankings of 11th, 2nd, and 1st in World Cup slopestyle events, Gu decided to switch her allegiance to China. Team USA had made a strong pitch to retain her, with the president of U.S. Ski & Snowboard discussing ways to ensure her continued involvement with the team.

Ultimately, Gu, then just 15, opted to ski for the China Ski Association. She viewed it as a remarkable chance to promote a sport she’s passionate about.

This choice drew criticism from some. For example, an article suggested that Gu and other American athletes who chose to represent China were “betraying” their home country. Notable political figures, like Nikki Haley, voiced strong opinions against Gu’s decision, framing it within contexts of human rights violations. Comedy commentator Bill Maher referred to her as a “symbol of China’s victory over the West.”

Gu, however, viewed her decision as a means to foster representation for the sport in China, particularly for young girls. “The U.S. has plenty of representation already,” she stated. “I prefer to build my own space.”

Yet, this choice also imposed enormous pressure as the Olympics approached. During her first event, with a gold medal on the line, she took a bold risk, attempting a double cork 1620—a maneuver she hadn’t practiced before. Although her mother urged caution, Gu persisted.

“Everything felt upside down,” she reminisces. “If I land it, I win. If I don’t, I’d still be the first to attempt it under such circumstances. I’m proud of that decision.”

Commentators remarked on the impressive nature of her performance, with one noting it epitomized a perfect play. The moment received recognition from Thomas Bach, the president of the IOC at that time, who called it the most emotional experience he had ever encountered at the Olympics.

However, even after winning her first gold, questions lingered about her citizenship due to China’s stance on dual nationality. Gu acknowledged the larger political context surrounding her situation, noting the challenges of being associated with a country often criticized on the world stage. “It’s rarely about me and my skiing,” she commented.

What’s more, her transition to representing China has sparked a noticeable uptick in young Chinese athletes participating in winter sports since the Beijing Games. Gu believes her presence has positively influenced the landscape of winter sports in China, stating, “I’ve had a lot of positive impact without it costing anyone.”

Currently, Gu is on the mend from an injury she sustained while training last August and is preparing for another Olympic run. She’s considered a leading contender in big air, halfpipe, and slopestyle, reaffirming in early 2024 her intention to represent China once more.

As she looks ahead, Gu reflects on the challenge of repeating success: “It’s definitely harder to do something multiple times than it is to do it once. I don’t want to enter a defensive mindset, worrying about others. That’s just not who I am.”

“I train like I’ve never won, and I compete like I’ve never lost,” she concludes.