Eileen Gu States Olympic Success Is Not Defined by Gender
After successfully defending her title in the women’s halfpipe at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Eileen Gu expressed her belief that Olympic triumph is independent of gender.
“I’m the most decorated freeskier of all time, male or female,” Gu, 22, remarked on Sunday, February 22. “I possess the highest number of gold medals ever, regardless of gender. This reflects both competitive and mental strength, highlighting the ability to perform under pressure, which is unrelated to whether you are a boy or a girl.”
Following her gold medal win in her final event at the Games in Italy, the Olympian noted that she had “showcased my best skiing” across all three of her events.
“As far as performance is concerned, that’s all I can ask for — to demonstrate the best that women’s skiing has to offer at the moment it truly counts,” Gu added.
Her teammate, Li Fanghui, secured the silver in the event, while Zoe Atkin of Great Britain took home the bronze.
Gu, who was born and raised in San Francisco, California, decided to compete for China, her mother Yan Gu’s homeland, which led to comments from United States Vice President J.D. Vance.
“I believe someone who grew up in the United States and benefited from our education system and the freedoms that make this country great would want to compete for the United States,” Vance stated on Fox News on Tuesday, February 17. “I’m rooting for American athletes, and that includes those who identify as Americans. That’s who I’m supporting in this Olympics.”
Gu swiftly responded to Vance’s remarks.
“I appreciate it. Thanks, JD! How sweet,” Gu told USA Today on Thursday, February 19. She added that she feels “like a bit of a punching bag for a certain strand of American politics at the moment.”
Gu continued, “Numerous athletes compete for different countries… people seem to have an issue with me doing it because they categorize China as a singular entity and harbor negative feelings towards it. So it’s not really about what they claim it to be.”
“And also, it’s because I win,” Gu added. “If my performance were lacking, I believe they wouldn’t care as much—and that’s okay with me.”
Gu has represented China since the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. She is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and has spent many summers in Beijing.
Freestyle skier Eileen Gu has become a five-time Olympic medalist, earning her the title of the most decorated athlete in her sport’s history at the Games. This distinction leaves her little patience for reporters who undermine her achievements. After securing a silver medal in the women’s freeski slopestyle on Monday, February 16, she met with the media, […]
In addition to her gold medal on Sunday, Gu claimed two silver medals: one in the women’s big air and another in the women’s freeski slopestyle.
During a press conference following her second silver medal, a reporter asked her if she viewed her pair of second-place finishes as “two silver medals gained or two golds lost.”
“I’m the most decorated female freeskier in history,” Gu replied with a hearty laugh. “I think that answers the question itself. To be frank, winning a medal at the Olympics is transformative for any athlete. Achieving this five times is exponentially more challenging.”
She continued, “The perspective of viewing this as two medals lost is, quite frankly, a ludicrous viewpoint. I’m showcasing my best skiing. I’m performing feats that have never been accomplished before, and I believe that is more than sufficient, but thank you.”
