Following the halfpipe event last week, Gu, who represents China and remains one of the most high-profile athletes at the Milano-Cortina Games, addressed the ongoing criticism she faces in the U.S., including recent comments from U.S. Vice President JD Vance, as well as a frightening past incident at her university.
In a recent interview with Fox NewsVance referenced Gu, stating he hoped someone who grew up in the U.S. would “want to compete with the United States.”
Gu appeared unfazed by the Vice President’s remarks. “I’m flattered. Thanks, JD! That’s sweet,” she replied playfully.
Gold medallist Ailing Eileen Gu of China celebrates on the podium during the women’s freeski halfpipe victory ceremony on Feb. 22, 2026. Photo by Reuters |
When asked if she feels like a “punching bag” for certain factions of American politics, Gu agreed.
“I do,” the 22-year-old told USA Today. “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. So it’s not really about what they think it’s about.”
She also pointed to her dominance in the sport as a primary driver of the vitriol. “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. People are entitled to their opinions.”
The intense public scrutiny has seemingly spilled over into safety concerns. When asked about her physical safety, Gu revealed a disturbing incident that occurred last year on Stanford University’s campus, where she is an undergraduate student.
She described being targeted by “a person who came and physically attacked me in broad daylight,” clarifying that the attacker was not a Stanford student.
“And then our dorm was robbed… It was pretty serious, yeah.”
Gu’s point about dual-national athletes is common in winter sports and was evident in her own event. Great Britain’s Zoe Atkin, who won the halfpipe qualifying round with a stellar score of 91.50, was born in Massachusetts.
Gu, 22, was born in California.
She represented the United States at the junior level before deciding in 2019 to compete for China, her mother’s homeland. At the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, she won gold medals in big air and halfpipe, along with a silver in slopestyle.
At the 2026 Winter Games, Gu faced the brink of elimination after falling during her first run of the halfpipe qualifiers. She rallied under immense pressure, delivering a clutch second-run score of 86.50 to finish fifth and secure her spot in the Feb. 21 finals, where she successfully won gold to duplicate her Beijing performance.
The victory means Gu is now the most successful freestyle skier in the Games’ history. She has competed in six Olympic events over her career: halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air in both Beijing and Milan Cortina, and has won a medal every single time.
“I walk away as the most decorated free skier of all time, male or female, and the most gold medals of any free skier ever, male or female,” she said, as quoted by The Independent. “And that is something that I’m so, so proud of.”
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