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American-born Team China skier Eileen Gu responded to the global criticism she has received during the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina.
Her decision to compete for China despite being born in the United States has made her a target for Americans and others around the world, with Vice President JD Vance chiming in by saying he hopes athletes born here would “want to compete with the United States.”
Gu was asked if she currently feels “like a bit of a punching bag for a certain part of American politics” after her contest on Thursday.
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Silver medalist Eileen Gu of China attends the freestyle skiing awards ceremony for the women’s freeski big air event at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Livigno, Italy, on February 16, 2026. (Hongxiang/Xinhua via Getty Images)
“I do,” she told USA Today. “So many athletes are competing for another 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. So it’s not really about what they think it’s about.
“And also because I’m winning. Like if I didn’t do well, I think they probably wouldn’t care and that’s ok with me. People are entitled to their opinions.”
Gu has previously said she was “physically assaulted” for her decision to represent China.
“The police were called. I’ve had death threats. I’ve had my dorm robbed,” Gu told The Athletic. “I’ve been through some things as a 22-year-old that I really think no one should ever have to endure, ever.”
EILEEN GU RECEIVES FLASHBACK FOR COMMENTING ON TRUMP’S STATEMENT WHILE REPRESENTING CHINA
Silver medalist Eileen Gu of China poses for photos after the freestyle skiing awards ceremony for the women’s freeski big air event 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 halfpipe final on Thursday after winning silver in her first two events.
It will be the climax of an Olympics defined by enormous global criticism of Gu.
The The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Gu and Zhu Yi, another American-born figure skater now competing for China, were paid $6.6 million by the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau in 2025 to “strive for 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 a Tuesday interview on Pakinomist’ “The Story With Martha MacCallum.”
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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 enjoyed our education system, the freedoms and liberties that make this country a great place, I hope they will compete with the United States,” Vance said on “The Story With Martha MacCallum.”
“So I will root for American athletesI think part of it is people identifying themselves as Americans. That’s who I’m going for in this Olympics.”
