EILEEN GU WINS TWO MORE MEDALS AT WINTER OLYMPICS

EILEEN GU WINS TWO MORE MEDALS AT WINTER OLYMPICS AMID CONTROVERSY OVER NATIONALITY DECISION
Freestyle skiing star Eileen Gu, born and raised in the United States but competing for China, has added two more Olympic medals to her résumé at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan–Cortina, while also becoming one of the most polarizing athletes at these Olympics due to her choice of national representation.
The 22-year-old secured silver medals in both the women’s freestyle ski Big Air and Slopestyle events, bringing her total to five Olympic medals across two Games making her the most decorated female freestyle skier in Olympic history.
Big Air Silver: Gu finished second behind Canada’s Megan Oldham in a tight final, scoring 179.0 points to Oldham’s 180.75.
Slopestyle Silver: Earlier in the Games, she also took silver in the slopestyle event, repeating her 2022 result in that discipline.
Though she didn’t defend her Big Air gold from the Beijing Olympics, the overall medal haul in Milan has cemented her status as a top skier Gu chose to compete for China beginning with the 2022 Beijing Olympics, a decision that drew global attention: she cited a desire to inspire athletes especially girls in China, where freestyle skiing is less established.
Her decision has divided public opinion, with supporters highlighting her sporting excellence and critics arguing she abandoned her birth country the U.S. to represent a powerful foreign nation. While Gu’s athletic performance is historic, she has faced significant vitriol and criticism, particularly from some American commentators and political figures:
Death Threats and Harassment:
Gu has spoken publicly about harassment she’s received, including death threats and other hostile incidents tied to her decision to compete for China rather than the United States.
Certain public figures such as former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom have labelled her a “traitor” for not competing under the U.S. flag, and Vice President JD Vance has said he won’t cheer for her at the Olympics because of her choice.
Some critics have also condemned her for not addressing or speaking out on broader issues like alleged human rights abuses in China, arguing that her position puts her in conflict with U.S. expectations of athletes. Gu has handled the spotlight with poise, using interviews and press interactions to frame her achievements on her own terms: In one viral interview, she dismissed a question about “lost gold medals”, saying that winning any Olympic medal is a huge accomplishment and that her record speaks for itself.
Supporters highlight that her success transcends nationality politics, and they applaud her confidence and athleticism on the world stage. Others argue that athletes should focus on sport rather than national identity issues.
Gu’s story has sparked debates at the intersection of sports, national identity, and geopolitics particularly against the backdrop of U.S.–China tensions. Some commentators suggest the situation reflects broader global shifts in athletic representation and cultural influence. Her decision and the reactions it’s provoked have made Gu one of the most talked-about athletes at the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics, blending athletic excellence with larger conversations about nationality, identity, and global sport.