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Dan Wetzel
Multiple Authors
Eileen Gu is an exceptionally talented college student who balances her studies with a modeling career, effortlessly executing a right double cork 1620 before gracefully landing on the slopes of an Alp.
Fluent in both English and Mandarin, she scored an impressive 1560 on her SAT and successfully navigated rush at Kappa Kappa Gamma. While deeply interested in quantum physics, she is an international studies major at Stanford — not this year, though, as she’s competing in the Winter Olympics, where she recently captured her fifth medal, a silver in freeski big air. Her next event will be the freeski halfpipe finals on Saturday.
She enjoys immense popularity in China (where her mother hails from) and is a cultural phenomenon in the United States (her birthplace). Her lucrative contracts with companies in both nations reflect their eagerness to associate with her brand.
At just 22 years of age, she’s capturing the attention of many.
Among her marketing partnerships is a beer company that may as well deem her the most intriguing woman globally, a title that even her strongest critics might reluctantly acknowledge.
And indeed, she has her share of fierce detractors.
Her choice to represent China instead of the United States — where she grew up, resides, and competed until the 2018-19 season as a member of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard team — has ignited considerable controversy, particularly on social media.
The backlash encompasses everything from heartfelt patriotic sentiments to opportunistic culture warriors.
Some of her most ardent critics have branded her a traitor, though that term may feel exaggerated. She hasn’t joined a foreign army; she participates in a sport that few Americans recognize beyond its fleeting appearances during the Olympics.
For many, she is a beacon of empowerment, a Gen Z dynamo who embodies the spirit of independence, even in team selection at the Olympics.
To clarify, Gu didn’t violate any regulations by switching to represent China at 15. While nation-switching can be complicated, it’s not unprecedented. Team USA boasts athletes like a bobsledder who previously competed for Canada and an ice dancing duo from Ukraine and Canada. also, the U.S. men’s soccer team actively recruits foreign-born dual nationals.
The critics’ sense of patriotism is subjective and often contextual. It certainly exists, even if it can sting at times.
Gu has articulated that a significant part of her decision was to inspire young Chinese girls, who often lack the visibility of female role models found in the U.S.
“The U.S. already has the representation,” Gu told Time last month. “I like building my own pond.”
While commendable, it’s essential to note that the pond she’s constructing is surrounded by lucrative investments, including direct compensation from a Chinese government entity.
In essence, Eileen Gu competes primarily not for a country, but for her own brand. Similar to athletes before her, from Mark Spitz to Michael Phelps and the NBA Dream Team, Gu has skillfully leveraged the Olympic ideals for personal gain, much like the International Olympic Committee, corporations, and politicians have done for generations.
The Wall Street Journal highlights that Gu and figure skater Zhu Yi — another American who chose to represent China and reportedly renounced her U.S. citizenship — collectively earned $14 million in payments from the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau over the last three years. plus, her heroic status in China has unlocked substantial advertising and sponsorship opportunities.
Forbes estimates that Gu earned $23.1 million in 2025, ranking her fourth among female athletes globally.
With her remarkable talent and presence on magazine covers, she wouldn’t be needing financial aid for tuition if she waved the stars and stripes, yet this lucrative estimate is substantial. Comparatively, Caitlin Clark reportedly made $12.1 million last year, per Forbes.
When Gu was just 15, being raised by a single mother in San Francisco, such prospects were not guaranteed.
This transformation into a successful athlete has been a lucrative endeavor.
but, to focus purely on accusations and patriotic grievances overlooks a more intricate narrative, a puzzle unfolding on skis.
Patriotism borne from profit can be questionable from the outset. Gu, with her ever-present smile and polished responses, may provoke thoughts of insincerity.
When Gu reveals a Chinese flag post-race, is her pride directed toward the nation or the paycheck?
She has skillfully navigated inquiries from both continents regarding her choices. Some wonder about the implications of competing for a nation that does not permit dual citizenship, and as far as is known, Gu has not renounced her U.S. citizenship, nor has she been seen on any list of expatriates from the IRS.
In America, there’s considerable frustration over her determined avoidance of discussions surrounding human rights abuses in China. This hypocrisy is evident, particularly when many of the same critics urge American athletes to “stick to sports,” especially when the opinions expressed fail to align with their own.
Still, one may wonder, is she truly aiding the Chinese Communist Party? Is it beneficial for them to have countless young people idolizing a highly educated, westernized, driven businesswoman who encourages youth not to wait until adulthood to create change?
Who knows? Perhaps she’s an American operative.
also, does her actions genuinely harm the U.S.? A one-person corporation earning millions from China could very well invest that money back into America, where she resides. Where does this sit on the patriotism scale compared to a multinational corporation that might sponsor Team USA while relocating jobs abroad? Numerous American businesses, including Disney, do considerable business in China.
Like it or not, isn’t capitalizing and navigating different avenues for increased profit a hallmark of the American spirit?
While many admire a populace devoted to America without alternative thought, one must consider: If offered $23.1 million to work with a Chinese firm, would they say no?
Gu is undoubtedly too astute not to have her own perspectives and rationalizations on this matter, and perhaps one day she will provide a comprehensive explanation. For now, both sides of the Pacific are left seeking clarity, attempting to decipher this riddle.
“What I really love about quantum physics,” Gu told Olympics.com, “[is] it’s very conceptual and makes you question the nature of reality.”
Was she referring to how her studies enhance her athletic performance, or is she playfully trolling two nations whose fervor for her has generated significant wealth and worldwide recognition?
Eileen Gu appears to be a funhouse mirror reflecting the hopes and views of many while effortlessly soaring higher and higher, an untroubled college student rising above the chaos.
Feel free to label her with any derogatory name imaginable; you might just be onto something.
Just remember, with medals and money to count, along with photoshoots, sorority events, and physics exams on the horizon, she’s not likely to return your call.
