Olympic freeskier Eileen Gu has responded to comments made by US Vice-President JD Vance, who appeared to criticise her decision to compete for China rather than the United States. Gu, 22, is the most decorated female freeskier in Olympic history, with five medals including two golds and a silver at the 2022 Beijing Games and two silvers at the Milano Cortina Games.
In an interview with Fox News, Vance suggested that American-born athletes should represent the US. 'I certainly think that somebody who grew up in the United States of America, who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that make this country a great place, I would hope that they want to compete with the United States of America,' he said.
Gu, born in San Francisco to an American father and Chinese mother, switched allegiance to China in 2019. When asked about Vance's comments after a qualifying run, she said: 'I'm flattered. Thanks, JD! That's sweet.' She added that she was not offended and agreed she had become a 'punching bag' for US political debate.
'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 said. 'And also, because I win. Like if I wasn't doing well, I think that they probably wouldn't care as much.'
Gu defended American freeskier Hunter Hess earlier in the Games after Donald Trump attacked him for expressing ambivalence about representing the US. She also stated that she does what she does to inspire young women, a principle she has held since age ten.
More than 15 American-born athletes have won medals at these Games for other countries, while at least 13 foreign-born athletes have medaled for Team USA. Gu is a favourite to medal again in the halfpipe event on Saturday.
