Eileen Gu receives shocking cheers in San Francisco despite criticism for representing China after historic 2026 Winter Olympics medals

Eileen Gu returned to her hometown of San Francisco after a headline-making Olympic run, and many wondered what kind of reaction she would receive. The freestyle skiing star had faced heavy criticism for representing China instead of the United States. But when Gu appeared at a major public event in the city, the response was very different from what many expected. At just 22 years old, Eileen Gu finished the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics as the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history. She won three medals during the Games, including one gold and two silvers. While her performance earned global praise, it also revived debate in the United States about her decision to compete for China.Because of that controversy, some people believed her return to San Francisco could be tense. Instead, the moment turned into a celebration. Gu served as the grand marshal at the city’s famous Chinese New Year Parade, and the crowds welcomed her with loud cheers. As she rode through San Francisco’s Chinatown in a bright red car, thousands of people lined the streets. Families, children, and visitors leaned toward the barricades to see her more closely. Many held up phones to take photos and videos. Even though the parade lasted more than two hours, there were no protests. The atmosphere stayed joyful from start to finish. When Gu gave a short speech during the celebration, the crowd responded with another round of applause.Eileen Gu’s career has often sparked strong reactions on both sides of the Pacific. Born in San Francisco, she grew up and studied in the United States and now attends Stanford University. Early in her career, she even competed for the United States during the 2018-19 Freestyle Ski World Cup.However, she later changed her national affiliation through the International Ski Federation and began competing for China. The move helped make her one of the most talked-about athletes before the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. In China, her decision was welcomed with excitement. Many fans and media outlets praised her as a symbol of the country’s growing winter sports program. But reactions in the United States were more divided.Some public figures openly criticized her. Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom spoke strongly about the issue during an appearance on Fox News. “I’m just going to say it, she’s a traitor. She was born in America. She was raised in America, lives in America, and chooses to compete against her own country,” he said.American journalist Megyn Kelly also questioned her decision. Speaking about Gu, Kelly said, “She gets all the advantages of being an American. She gets all the support from her fellow Americans. She gets an education at an American university, one of our most prestigious. And then she flies the coop to go compete for China, where she reportedly got a check. So, that’s Eileen Gu’s values.”Despite the criticism, Gu has continued to explain why she made the switch. In a post shared on Instagram, she said her goal was to help grow the sport and inspire young girls. “Skiing for Team China meant the opportunity to uplift others through the universal culture of sport, and to introduce freeskiing to hundreds of millions of people who had never heard of it,” Gu wrote.She added that the decision was also personal for her younger self. “I can look back now, at 22, and tell 12-year-old Eileen that there are now terrain parks full of little girls who will never doubt their place in the sport.” For Gu, the journey has always been about more than medals. And judging by the cheers she received in San Francisco, many fans still admire her achievements on the snow.