The mother shaping success of skiing sensation Eileen Gu from age 3

She gently leans to the rhythm of Eileen’s rotations, clasps her hands tightly, and bursts with joy when the perfect performance concludes.

That woman is Yan Gu, Eileen’s mother and the silent, unwavering support behind the “Snow Princess.”

Gu’s historic success in freestyle skiing is tightly linked to the influence of her mother, who nurtured, guided and stood by her throughout her journey to glory.

Born in 2003 in San Francisco, Eileen grew up in a close-knit household defined by three generations of strong women: her grandmother, her mother and herself. While her father is an American who graduated from Harvard, he has remained almost entirely absent from Eileen’s life.

Yan, an immigrant from China, raised her daughter as a single mother and shaped the path Eileen would eventually take.

According to The New York TimesYan was born in Shanghai into a highly educated family. Her father served as the chief electrical engineer at the Chinese Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, while her mother, Feng Guozhen, was a senior engineer at the Ministry of Transport. Feng was also a sports enthusiast who competed in football and athletics during her university years. The independent spirit and strict discipline cultivated in this family deeply influenced Yan, followed by Eileen.

Yan studied chemistry and biochemistry at the prestigious Peking University. During the 1980s, Yan left China to pursue higher education in the U.S. , earned a master’s degree in molecular biology at Auburn University in Alabama, and continued her academic journey at Rockefeller University in New York before ultimately completing her MBA at Stanford University.

This rigorous academic path clearly reflects the persistent and ambitious character of Yan. After that, she transitioned into finance and investment, initially working as an investment banker in New York and California before moving into venture capital with a focus on the Chinese market. Since 2013, she has operated as a private equity investor and an expert in China-related investments.

Nurturing greatness

However, in Eileen’s remarkable story, her mother’s background and career are secondary. What makes Yan truly exceptional is her approach to supporting her daughter in every step of the way.

Eileen was only three years old when her mother first introduced her to skiing. Living in San Francisco, the family were a few hours away from the resorts surrounding Lake Tahoe, making skiing a strictly weekend activity. To facilitate this, Yan worked as a part-time ski instructor at a nearby resort and even purchased a small apartment for convenience during the mountain trips, according to Time.

During those early years, Eileen’s days on the snow numbered only in the dozens per season, far fewer than professional peers who typically trained hundreds of days a year. Yet, those weekend trips laid the foundation for her career.

Yan showed up to nearly every training session of her daughter. Coaches often noted that she would stand at the top of the slope observing her daughter’s every move. When Eileen executed a spin or flip, Yan would unconsciously lean along with the move, cheering and clapping upon a safe landing.

This companionship went far beyond just supervision or encouragement. Yan instilled a fierce work discipline in her daughter. Eileen once said that her mother gave her a strong work ethic, while her grandmother gave her the winning mentality.

Eileen Gu embraces her mother during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy. Photo by Instagram/@eileengu

Growing up in the affluent Sea Cliff neighborhood of San Francisco, Eileen lived in a home overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge with two people she described as the most independent women she had ever known.

Her grandmother, Feng, instilled in Eileen a desire to conquer challenges from a very young age. During Eileen’s running competitions in her childhood, Feng would position herself in the most visible spot and shout in English, “Eileen Gu, number one!” That empowering phrase stayed with Eileen throughout her journey of growing up.

This multi-generational family also cultivated a special cultural environment. Eileen speaks fluent Mandarin and spent almost every summer visiting relatives in Beijing, trips that helped her connect to her mother’s homeland.

In 2019, Eileen made the highly controversial decision to compete internationally for China instead of the U.S. Announcing the move on social media, she acknowledged it was a difficult choice but emphasized immense pride in both her Chinese heritage and her American upbringing. She stated her primary goal was to inspire millions of young people in her mother’s homeland and to spark the development of freestyle skiing in China.

Behind that decision was the deep influence of her family, particularly Yan. Their summers spent in Beijing allowed Eileen to interact with the growing local ski community, planting the seed for her ambition to popularize the sport nationwide.

Following that decision, Eileen’s career skyrocketed. From a young talent, the 22-year-old became an international star and is now the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history, boasting a total of six medals across the 2022 and 2026 Winter Games.

Beyond sports, she has seamlessly transitioned into a model and a pop culture icon.

Eileen Gu and her mother, Yan Gu, wave to the crowd as they lead a parade celebrating the Lunar New Year in San Francisco, California, U.S., on March 7, 2026. Photo by AP

Throughout this entire journey, Yan has remained a steadfast presence behind the scenes. She often presents at major competitions, fashion events and in her daughter’s everyday photos.

Perhaps this is why, when discussing her success, Eileen rarely mentions strategy or technique. Instead, she often points to her family.

“We’re pretty much the same person,” Gu told Olympics.com. “Despite the fact she’s older than me, as I’ve grown up we’ve become more like friends. In that sense she understands the way my brain works extremely well and she knows what to say in the right moments.”