Eileen Gu to compete for China at Winter Olympics again despite backlash

Two-time Olympic gold medalist and freestyle skiing star Eileen Gu will once again compete for China instead of the United States at next month’s Winter Olympics, insisting the United States “already has the representation” despite previous backlash over her decision.

Gu, who was born in California, faced criticism in 2022 for her decision to represent China in the Beijing Olympics, where she claimed gold in the women’s freeski big air and halfpipe and silver in the women’s freeski slopestyle. 

Eileen Gu of China celebrates winning the final run of the freeski slopestyle at the World Cup at Laax Open Jan. 17, 2026, in Laax, Switzerland. (Andreas Becker/Keystone via AP)

In an interview with Time Magazine, Gu said her decision was based more on her ability to inspire participation in the sport, which traditionally was not popular in China. 

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“The U.S. already has the representation,” Gu said. “I like building my own pond.”

Time also noted in the interview that “[Gu] insists the potential to earn more representing Chinese companies didn’t cross her mind. ‘I’m glad that there’s enough money in the sport now for people to think that’s a consideration,’ she says.”

Gu, whose mother is Chinese, grew up in San Francisco, but she said before the 2022 Winter Games that she estimates she’s spent at least a quarter of her life in China. 

Eileen Gu of China competes during the final run of the freeski slopestyle at the World Cup at the Laax Open in Laax, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2026. (Andreas Becker/Keystone via AP)

US-BORN OLYMPIC FREESKIER EILEEN GU DODGES QUESTIONS ABOUT CITIZENSHIP AFTER WINNING GOLD FOR CHINA

Questions about her citizenship status were a major point of contention during her previous Olympic outing because the Chinese government does not allow dual citizenship, meaning the California native would have had to give up her U.S. citizenship to do so.  

She dodged several questions at the time about whether she relished her U.S. citizenship. Time noted that Gu “decline[d] to engage on the citizenship question,” and that there was no evidence to suggest she had relinquished her citizenship.

“I don’t really see how that’s relevant,” she said. 

Gold medalist Eileen Gu of Team China celebrates during the women’s freeski halfpipe flower ceremony at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou, China, Feb. 18, 2022. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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Gu, 22, enters Italy as the heavy favorite to defend her titles. She picked up her record-extending 20th World Cup career victory and her fourth in slopestyle with a win at the Laax Open in Switzerland last week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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