Freestyle skier Eileen Gu, the most decorated athlete in her discipline's history, has addressed comments from US Vice President JD Vance. Vance suggested that athletes raised in the United States should exclusively represent American colors. The 22-year-old sportswoman, who has been competing for China for seven years, responded to these remarks with irony, stating she felt flattered by the attention from one of the world's most important politicians.
Ironic Retort from the Champion
Eileen Gu thanked JD Vance for the criticism, seeing it as proof of recognition for her sporting successes.
Record Number of Medals
With five medals, Gu has become the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history.
Political Dispute Over Loyalty
The US Vice President suggests that American athletes trained in the country should represent the USA.
During the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, a sharp exchange occurred along the sports-politics line. Eileen Gu, who already possesses five Olympic medals, became a target of attacks from the White House administration. JD Vance in an interview questioned the loyalty of athletes who, after training in American centers, decide to compete under a foreign flag. Gu responded to these accusations after qualifying for the final, stating with a smile: „I'm flattered. Thanks, JD! That's nice”. Gu's situation is unique due to her financial and marketing status – she is the world's fourth highest-earning sportswoman, effectively monetizing her popularity both in the US and China. However, political pressure is becoming increasingly palpable. In the United States, the skier faces accusations of betrayal and even threats, while in China she is treated as a national hero. This controversy fits into the broader context of great power rivalry, where sporting successes are used as tools of soft power. Since the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the issue of Eileen Gu's citizenship has stirred emotions, as China officially does not recognize dual citizenship, and the skier has never explicitly confirmed renouncing her American passport.Despite the tense atmosphere, Gu focuses on sporting results. She is already the most decorated woman in the history of freestyle skiing at the Olympics. Defenders of the sportswoman point out the hypocrisy of critics, noting that many athletes change national colors in search of better development conditions or for family reasons, yet only Gu's case provokes such intense political reactions at the highest level. „So many athletes compete for another country... People take offense to what I do because they are successful.” — Eileen Gu Eileen Gu: Beijing 2022 (Gold): 2, Beijing 2022 (Silver): 1, Milan 2026 (Silver): 2