On the snowy slopes of Livigno, Italy, Eileen Gu, the prodigious freestyle skier, is once again at the center of an international firestorm—this time, not just for her dazzling athletic feats, but for the flag she chooses to represent. As the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics unfold, Gu has added two more silver medals to her already glittering collection, making her the most-awarded female skier in Olympic history. Yet, the applause for her record-breaking performance is interwoven with a chorus of political controversy and personal hardship.
Gu, born in San Francisco to a Chinese mother, made headlines in 2019 when she announced her decision to compete for China, her mother’s homeland, rather than the United States. In an Instagram post from that year, Gu described her choice as "an incredibly tough decision," motivated by the desire to inspire millions of young people in China and promote the sport she loves. "I am proud of my heritage, and equally proud of my American upbringings. The opportunity to help inspire millions of young people where my mom was born, during the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help to promote the sport I love," she wrote. "Through skiing, I hope to unite people, promote common understanding, create communication, and forge friendships between nations. If I can help to inspire one young girl to break a boundary, my wishes will have come true."
Fast forward to February 2026, and Gu’s decision continues to stir emotions on both sides of the Pacific. The 22-year-old’s remarkable run at the Milan Games—where she has already clinched two silver medals and is set to compete in the women’s freestyle skiing halfpipe final—has only intensified the spotlight. Her achievements add to her haul from the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where she won two golds and a silver, cementing her legacy as a trailblazer in her sport.
But for every cheer, there seems to be a jeer. Gu has become a lightning rod for a strand of American political discourse, with critics questioning her loyalty and, in some cases, branding her a "traitor." The debate reached new heights when U.S. Vice President JD Vance addressed the issue during a February 17 appearance on Fox News’ "The Story With Martha MacCallum." When asked about Gu’s choice to represent China, Vance said, "I have no idea what her status should be. I think that's ultimately up to the Olympics Committee. I won't pretend to wade into that." Yet, he left little doubt about his personal feelings, adding, "I certainly think that somebody who grew up in the United States of America, who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that make this country a great place, I would hope that they want to compete with the United States of America. So, I’m going to root for American athletes, and I think part of that is people who identify themselves as Americans. That’s who I’m rooting for this Olympics."
Vance’s comments come against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny for American athletes who compete for other nations. He and his wife, Usha Vance, were even booed at the Opening Ceremony at San Siro Stadium on February 6, a moment that underscored the charged atmosphere surrounding the Games. The vice president also weighed in on athletes who use the Olympic stage to make political statements, cautioning, "My advice to them would be to try to bring the country together, and when you’re representing the country, you’re representing Democrats and Republicans. You’re there to play a sport, and you’re there to represent your country and hopefully win a medal. You’re not there to pop off about politics." He added that athletes who do speak out should "expect some pushback," but praised the majority for doing "a great job."
Gu, for her part, has responded to the criticism with candor and resilience. In an interview with USA Today, she acknowledged, "I do [feel like a punching bag for a certain strand of American politics]. So many athletes compete for a different country. … People only have a problem with me doing it because they kind of lump China into this monolithic entity, and they just hate China. So it’s not really about what they think it’s about. And also, because I win. Like if I wasn’t doing well, I think that they probably wouldn’t care as much, and that’s OK for me. People are entitled to their opinions."
The pressure hasn’t been limited to words. Gu revealed to The Athletic that she’s faced physical assaults, death threats, and even had her dorm robbed while attending Stanford University. "The police were called. I’ve had death threats. I’ve had my dorm robbed. I’ve gone through some things as a 22-year-old that I really think no one should ever have to endure, ever," she shared. The toll of this animosity is palpable, yet Gu remains steadfast in her mission to inspire and unite.
The controversy has also been fueled by revelations about financial incentives. The Wall Street Journal reported that Gu and Zhu Yi, another American-born athlete now skating for China, were paid a combined $6.6 million by the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau in 2025 for their efforts to qualify for the 2026 Milan Games. Over the past three years, the pair have reportedly received nearly $14 million in total. While such payments are not uncommon in the world of elite sports, their disclosure has added another layer of complexity to the debate over national allegiance and athlete compensation.
As Gu prepares for the halfpipe final, the world watches with bated breath. Her journey is more than a tale of athletic prowess; it’s a story of identity, ambition, and the collision of personal dreams with the realities of geopolitics. The Olympic Games have long been a stage for both unity and division, and Gu’s saga is a stark reminder of how sport can become a proxy battleground for larger societal debates.
Despite the tumult, Gu’s focus remains on the slopes and on the young fans she hopes to inspire. Her decision to compete for China may never please everyone, but her commitment to her sport and her ideals is undeniable. As she told The Athletic, "In the U.S. growing up, I had so many idols to look up to. But in China, I feel like there are a lot fewer of those. I’d have a much greater impact in China than in the U.S., and that’s ultimately why I made my decision."
With the halfpipe final looming and the Olympic spotlight burning bright, Eileen Gu stands at the intersection of two worlds—balancing the weight of expectation, the sting of criticism, and the hope that her story might help bridge divides, one breathtaking run at a time.