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After an Olympics marked by victory and controversy, American-born Team China skier Eileen Gu was seen sharing a moment with another elite female athlete who is often at the center of cultural debates.
Gu posted an Instagram story of her and Clark at Milan Fashion Week on Thursday, just days after Gu won gold at the Winter Olympics. The two were seen sitting next to each other in the front row at Prada.
The photo of the two women’s sports superstars received mixed reactions on social media, with some fans excited to see the two next to each other, while critics expressed disapproval, amid Gu’s decision to compete for China despite growing up in the US
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Gold medalist Eileen Gu of China poses with her medals after winning the women’s freestyle skiing halfpipe final at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
“Why is Caitlin cheapening her public image? Where’s her publicist,” wrote one critic on X.
Another critic wrote: “What a poor decision by Caitlin Clark.”
Meanwhile, one fan celebrated, writing: “A superstar basketball player sat next to a superstar Olympian IN MILANO, go Caitlin, that’s so cool.”
Gu went to the fashion event shortly after the Milan Cortina Games ended as she has a second career as a fashion model and has even walked runways in the past.
Gu’s participation comes after the star skier broke down in tears after winning gold in the women’s halfpipe final on Sunday, revealing her grandmother had died ahead of the competition.
It ended an Olympics in which she had to compete under the pressure of enormous global scrutiny in response to her decision to compete for China seven years ago.
Gu was asked if she feels “like a bit of a punching bag for a certain part of American politics.”
“I do,” she said, according to 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. 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.”
Meanwhile, Clark has become a folk hero to many Americans because of her excellence on the basketball court and historic accomplishments in the WNBA and in college.
However, Clark has also been a target for a certain portion of WNBA fans and even current and former players.
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Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky look on during the game on June 1, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
The criticism of Caitlin Clark stems primarily from her rapid ascension as the face of the WNBA, creating tension among veterans who feel her immense popularity overshadows their long-term contributions.
Some controversy surrounding Clark has also centered on her presence as a white woman in a predominantly black sport, as some fans have claimed that Clark receives preferential treatment from the media because of her race, while other fans claim the exact opposite and that she is physically targeted by other players during games.
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