Alysa Liu Defends Eileen Gu's Olympic Choice to Represent China
American Olympic gold medalist and figure-skating star Alysa Liu has publicly defended fellow Bay Area native Eileen Gu's controversial decision to represent China in international freestyle skiing competitions. In an interview with The New York Times, the 20-year-old Liu declined to criticise the six-time Olympic medalist, instead highlighting their long-standing friendship and shared background.
Bay Area Connection and Viral Video
'I've known Eileen since I was 13 or something,' Liu told the Times. 'We're from the Bay Area. She's super nice, and her mom is from China.' The two athletes appear together in a 2018 video from the Northern California Chinese Culture Athletic Federation that recently gained viral attention. The footage shows the then-teenagers performing a karaoke version of Alicia Keys' 'Girl On Fire' before a small audience, laughing and enjoying the moment.
Liu Criticises Hypocrisy of Detractors
Speaking candidly with the Times, Liu directly addressed those who have criticised Gu's choice. 'I think people are hypocritical for shaming her for representing China,' Liu stated. 'So in my head it's a bit hypocritical, because her mom is an immigrant. Y'all would have told her to go back to China. Now that they're back in China, you're mad.'
Liu emphasised the universal nature of sport, adding: 'And it's sport, it doesn't matter what country we represent. Sport is sport, and she has a love for competition, she has love for the game. I think that's all that matters. There's no shame in going to where opportunity is.'
Financial Incentives and Chinese Funding
Gu's opportunity with Team China appears to have included significant financial incentives. According to The Wall Street Journal, Gu and another athlete received a combined $6.6 million from the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau in preparation for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Over the past three years, the pair reportedly obtained approximately $14 million total from the Bureau, with funding allocated specifically for 'striving for excellent results in qualifying for the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics,' based on budget documents reviewed by the Journal.
Spokespeople for Gu did not respond to the Journal's requests for comment regarding these financial arrangements. Previously, Gu explained to The Athletic that she chose to represent China, her mother's native country, because she believed she could make a greater impact with the People's Republic.
Mixed Reactions from Sports and Political Figures
Gu has received both praise and condemnation from notable figures. Retired US soccer star Megan Rapinoe has expressed support, while Vice President JD Vance offered criticism during a Fox News interview last month. 'I certainly think that someone who grew up in the United States of America who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that makes this country a great place, I would hope they want to compete with the United States of America,' Vance stated. 'So, I'm going to root for American athletes, I think part of that is people who identify themselves as Americans.'
Controversy Over Human Rights and Personal Attacks
Gu has faced particular scrutiny for not publicly criticising China's communist regime, which has been accused of persecuting Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang province. When questioned by Time magazine, Gu responded: 'I haven't done the research. I don't think it's my business. I'm not going to make big claims on my social media.' She elaborated: 'I'm just more of a skeptic when it comes to data in general. So, it's not like I can read an article and be like, 'Oh, well, this must be the truth.' I need to have a ton of evidence.'
China has consistently denied allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang, calling them 'groundless' in official statements. Nevertheless, former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, who attributes the end of his career to his criticism of China, labelled Gu a 'traitor' in a Fox News interview. 'She was born in America. She was raised in America, lives in America, and chooses to compete against her own country for, literally, the worst human rights abuser on the planet, China,' Kanter Freedom asserted.
Personal Consequences for Gu
Gu's decision has led to significant personal repercussions. She revealed to The Athletic that she was physically assaulted on the street while attending Stanford University in California, prompting police involvement. 'I've had death threats,' Gu disclosed. 'I've had my dorm robbed.' Additionally, she claimed that a petition initiated by parents of Chinese-American students sought to prevent her admission to the university.
Despite the controversy and personal attacks, Alysa Liu's defence underscores the complex personal and professional considerations athletes face when choosing which nation to represent on the global stage.
