As the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics approach, one name continues to dominate the conversation: Eileen Gu. The 22-year-old double-Olympic champion is once again preparing to represent China, a move that remains a point of contention for fans and critics in both the U.S. and the East.
Born and raised in San Francisco, Gu became a global phenomenon during the 2022 Beijing Games. She made history as the first action-sports athlete to win three medals at a single Olympics. Now a student at Stanford and a high-profile model, she is balancing quantum physics with 20 World Cup victories.
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In a recent interview with Time Magazine, Gu explained that her choice is about more than just medals. She wants to introduce freestyle skiing to a country where it barely existed before she arrived.
“The U.S. already has the representation,” Gu told the publication. “I like building my own pond.”
The citizenship question
Despite her success, Gu faces persistent questions about her legal status. China does not recognize dual citizenship, which usually requires athletes to renounce their original nationality. Gu has consistently declined to confirm if she has given up her American passport.
“I don’t really see how that’s relevant,” she said when asked about the issue.
While some U.S. commentators have called her decision “ungrateful,” some Chinese critics have labeled her an outsider. Gu pushes back against the idea that her motives are financial. While she has major deals with companies like Red Bull, Louis Vuitton, and Luckin Coffee, she says the money in the sport is a sign of progress rather than her primary goal.
A focus on impact
The impact of her decision is measurable. Since the Beijing Games, the Chinese government reports that over 300 million people have participated in winter sports. For Gu, this growth justifies the pressure and the “bot armies” that sometimes target her online.
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She also chooses to stay out of the geopolitical fray. Gu does not believe it is her place to comment on trade tariffs or human rights records, preferring to focus on her role as an athlete.
“It’s irresponsible to ask me to be the mouthpiece for any agenda,” she said.
Managing the pressure
The road hasn’t been easy. Gu has spoken openly about experiencing panic attacks and post-Olympic depression. She described the “dangerous spiral” of drawing motivation from fear rather than desire.
To cope, she leans on a rigorous routine of “aggressive recovery” and solitude at Stanford. Her friend Sawyer Williams notes that Gu’s ability to be “100% present” in whatever she is doing—whether it’s taking quantum physics finals or walking a runway—is her greatest strength.
As she heads to Italy as the favorite for the halfpipe and slopestyle events, Gu is focused on the challenge of defending her titles. “I train like I’ve never won,” she said, “and I compete like I’ve never lost.”
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