Eileen Gu responds to criticism over Team China decision at Olympics
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American-born Team China skier Eileen Gu has responded to the global criticism she received during the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Although he was born in the United States, his decision to run for China made him a target for Americans and others around the world; Vice President J.D. Vance chimed in, saying he hoped athletes born here “will want to compete with the United States.”
Gu was asked after his contest on Thursday if he felt “a bit of a punching bag for a certain branch of American politics.”
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Silver medalist Eileen Gu of China attends the awards ceremony of the women’s freeski big air event in freestyle skiing at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Livigno, Italy, on February 16, 2026. (Hongxiang/Xinhua via Getty Images)
“Yes,” he said, according to USA Today. “A lot of athletes compete for a different country. … People have a problem with me doing that because they’re incorporating China into this monolith and they hate China. So it’s not about what they think it’s about.
“Also because I won. I think they probably wouldn’t care if I wasn’t doing well, and that’s fine with me. People are entitled to their own opinions.”
Gu had previously said he was “physically attacked” for his decision to represent China.
“The police were called. I received death threats. My dorm was robbed.” Gu told The Athletic:. “As a 22-year-old kid, I’ve been through some things that I really don’t think anyone should have to endure.”
EILEEN GU WAS ENCOURAGED FOR COMMENTING ON TRUMP’S STATEMENT WHILE REPRESENTING CHINA
Silver medalist Eileen Gu of China poses for a photo after the awards ceremony of the women’s freeski big air event in freestyle skiing at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Livigno, Italy, on February 16, 2026. (Wang Peng/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Gu will compete in the women’s freestyle ski halfpipe final on Thursday after winning silver medals in her first two events.
This will be the high point of the Olympics defined by intense global criticism of Gu.
Wall Street Magazine Last week, it was reported that Gu and Zhu Yi, American-born figure skaters who currently compete for China, were paid a total of $6.6 million by the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau in 2025 for “trying to achieve excellent results in qualifying for the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics.” In total, the two were reportedly paid nearly $14 million over the past three years.
Vance weighed in on the controversy surrounding Gu in an interview on Fox News’ “The Story With Martha MacCallum” on Tuesday.
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(left) Team China skier Eileen Gu, (right) Vice President JD Vance (Getty Images)
“I certainly think that someone who grew up in the United States and benefited from our educational system and the freedoms and liberties that make this country a great place would want to compete with the United States,” Vance said on “The Story With Martha MacCallum.”
“Okay, I’m leaving The root of American athletesI think part of it is people identifying as Americans. That’s who I’m rooting for in these Olympics.”
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