Vice President Vance Comments on Eileen Gu’s Olympic Choice

Vice President J.D. Vance spoke about the ongoing debate surrounding Olympic skier Eileen Gu’s decision to compete for China rather than the United States. In a recent interview on Fox News’ “The Story with Martha McCallum,” he acknowledged that he wasn’t sure what Gu’s position should be, expressing a hope that American athletes would choose to represent the U.S. on the international stage.

Vance stated, “I have no idea what her position should be. I think ultimately it’s up to the Olympic Committee. I’m not going to intervene in that.” His comments reflect a nuanced take on the athlete’s choice.

“If you’ve grown up in America and benefited from the freedoms and education system that makes this country such a great place, I’m sure you want to compete here,” he added. Naturally, this resonates with many who support American athletes. “So I’m going to be rooting for American athletes, and I think some of them are people who identify as American, and that’s who I’m rooting for in this Olympics.”

Eileen Gu has faced significant backlash, particularly from American fans, regarding her decision to represent China in the Olympics. She previously competed for China during the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.

Gu’s background reveals some interesting contrasts: she grew up in California, attended Stanford University, and is the daughter of a first-generation Chinese immigrant. In 2019, she made the choice to represent China, calling it an “incredibly tough” decision. Given the geopolitical tensions, it’s understandable why some Americans might view her decision with skepticism.

Interestingly, Gu has become a high-earning athlete in the winter sports arena, projected to earn around $23 million in 2025 from partnerships with both Chinese and Western companies, such as the Bank of China. She stated that her decision was largely influenced by a desire to represent her mother, who was born in China.

While Gu has not publicly commented on various human rights issues in China, including the situation in Xinjiang, she has shown her competitive spirit by winning two silver medals in freestyle skiing at the Milan-Cortina Games. She still has one last event, the halfpipe, coming up on Saturday, where she aims to add to her medal tally.