Eileen Gu breaks silence on China choice debate, hints at more Olympics while opening up about family loss

Eileen Gu is back in the spotlight, but this time it is not just about her skiing. The 22-year-old freestyle skier, who was born in San Francisco, is once again being talked about for her decision to represent China instead of the United States. The topic came up again after comments from U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who questioned why athletes raised in America choose to compete for other countries.

Gu did not go into a long explanation this time. In a recent interview with Esquire, she brushed the topic aside in a very simple way. “It’s old news,” she said. Her short response showed she has moved on, even though the debate still follows her.

Eileen Gu addresses criticism, opens up on future plans and personal loss

Earlier this year during the Winter Games, Gu had already reacted to the criticism. When asked about JD Vance’s remarks, she replied with a mix of humor and confidence. “I’m flattered. Thanks, JD! That’s sweet,” she said. Then she added, “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. And also, because I win. Like if I wasn’t doing well, I think that they probably wouldn’t care as much.”

While the debate around her nationality continues, Gu made one thing clear. She is not done with the Olympics. At just 22, she has already competed in two Winter Games and won six medals. But she believes there is more to come. “I feel like I have more sport in me. I can probably do another Olympics, maybe two,” she said.

Her life is not limited to skiing anymore. After her recent success, especially during the Winter Games in Italy, Gu’s profile has grown beyond sports. She is now also known as a model, influencer, and a student at Stanford University. Talking about her identity, she said, “I don’t know what my job title is. I guess it’s just Eileen.”

She explained it in her own unique way. “I didn’t fit into a pond, so I made my own. I’m not a big fish in a small pond, and I’m not a small fish in a big pond. I’m just the only fish in my own pond.”

Behind the success, there was also a painful moment. During the Games, Gu learned that her grandmother, Feng Guozhen, had passed away. The news came just minutes after she won gold in the halfpipe. She later shared her emotions at a press conference.

“The reason I was late is that I just found out that my grandma passed away. She was a really big part of my life growing up and someone I looked up to immensely,” she said.

She added, “She was so strong, she was a fighter. This woman commanded life and she grabbed it by the reins and she made it into what she wanted it to be and she inspired me so much.”




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