Eileen Gu is not bothered at all.
The entire month of February seemed to be centered around San Francisco-born skier Eileen Gu competing under the Chinese flag. Gu represents China to honor her Chinese heritage, promote skiing among young Chinese girls.
Born in California to a Chinese mother, she frequently visited Beijing, but her roots are in the United States of America. When you look deeper into her decision, you will notice that she made it primarily for a strategic, high-value move. The decision earned her millions of dollars, far exceeding typical earnings in U.S. winter sports.
By 2025, Gu was among the highest-paid female athletes globally, with nearly all her $23 million in annual income coming from endorsements, largely from Chinese brands.
Through every turn, Gu was ridiculed for her decision. Vice President JD Vance, who attended the Olympics, criticized Eileen Gu for representing China. He stated that someone who benefited from American education and freedoms should compete for the United States. Vance added that he would not be rooting for her, saying, “I’m going to root for American athletes.”
Eileen Gu Has Subtle Response To JD Vance
The 22-year-old Olympian has made headlines throughout the Winter Games, whether it’s celebrating her performance or responding to critics.
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But now, in an interview with Esquire, Gu has decided to take the high road when it comes to JD Vance. ‘It’s old news,’ she simply said, without offering any further comment.
His comments are old now, but she certainly fired back at him in February. The Olympic gold medalist offered a witty, dismissive response, saying, “I’m flattered. Thanks, JD! That’s sweet.”
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Eileen Gu also said that perceptions of China affect how people view her decision to represent the country, but “people are entitled to their opinions.”
“So many athletes compete for a different 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,” Gu added. “So it’s not really about what they think it’s about.
“And also, because I win. Like if I wasn’t doing well, I think that they probably wouldn’t care as much, and that’s OK for me.”
Born in 2003, Gu is the daughter of Yan Gu, a first-generation Chinese immigrant and an American father.
