Former soccer player Megan Rapinoe shared her thoughts on the ongoing discussion regarding Irene Gu’s choice to represent China, despite her American upbringing. Gu, a freeskier born in the U.S. and now part of the Chinese team, has made headlines during the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics for being incredibly successful yet controversial.
Recently, a discussion emerged after it was revealed that Gu and another American-born athlete competing for China received payments totaling $6.6 million from the Beijing Sports Bureau in 2025.
Gu stands out as the highest-paid female Winter Olympian, earning around $23 million in 2025 through partnerships with both Chinese and Western companies, including the Bank of China. Rapinoe commented that Gu’s decision to compete for China seems like a “good business decision.”
Rapinoe noted during a podcast, co-hosted with her spouse Sue Bird, that she admired Gu’s business savvy, stating, “I wasn’t embarrassed in that game.” The two discussed a viral interaction where Gu was asked by a reporter if her two Olympic silver medals had hindered her chances for gold. Gu laughed off the question, indicating that it was somewhat absurd.
Bird praised Gu’s response, calling it “the best answer I’ve ever heard to a question like that.” They both felt that Gu’s perspective could be beneficial for growth.
During the Olympics, Gu faced significant backlash for her choice to represent China while not addressing the country’s human rights issues. In a conversation with Time magazine, she addressed the situation regarding the alleged persecution of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang. Gu stated, “I haven’t done any research. I don’t think it’s my job. I’m not going to make big claims on social media.”
She continued to express skepticism about data, suggesting that one cannot simply trust what they read in articles without substantial evidence. Gu highlighted that understanding complex issues requires deeper investigation, emphasizing that it’s vital to engage with multiple sources and perspectives.
Interestingly, Rapinoe and Bird, who consider themselves advocates for equality and social justice, did not mention Gu’s stance on China’s human rights situation during their podcast discussion.
