The success of Chinese American freestyle skier Eileen Gu at the Beijing Winter Olympics has been overshadowed by a citizenship row, highlighting the tensions between nationalism and identity amid worsening US-China relations. Gu, who was born in San Francisco to an American father and a Chinese mother, switched her sporting allegiance from the US to China in 2019, winning three Olympic medals for her mother's home country.
Gu's decision to represent China has drawn criticism from some in the US, with a Fox News analyst calling her 'ungrateful' and her 'reverse migration' 'shameful'. In China, she has been celebrated as a national hero and the face of major brands, but questions about her citizenship persist. China does not recognise dual nationality, and under Olympic rules, Gu must be a Chinese citizen to compete for the country, which would require her to renounce her US passport.
Gu has avoided clarifying her citizenship status publicly. When asked about her critics, she said: 'I'm an 18-year-old out here living my best life. I'm not going to waste my time trying to placate people who are uneducated, and don't experience the gratitude and love I have on a daily basis.' Her response was praised on Chinese social media and by state media.
However, some in China have urged caution. Hu Xijin, former editor of the nationalist tabloid Global Times, warned Chinese media to tone down praise for Gu, saying 'China's national honour and credibility should not be put at stake in the case of Gu Ailing.' He noted that as US-China relations deteriorate, Gu may face pressure to choose a side.
Robert Daly, director of the Kissinger Institute on China and the United States, said Gu's case reflects a broader trend where dual-heritage individuals are increasingly forced to take sides. 'For many years, a large number of Chinese Americans have been free to move back and forth between both countries... But the ground has shifted under their feet,' he said.
