Winter Olympics 2026: How Eileen Gu divides opinion
BBC • • sports
Key Points:
- Eileen Gu is the most decorated female Olympic freestyle skier in history, having won five medals and competing for a potential sixth at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
- Born in California to an American father and Chinese mother, Gu switched her sporting allegiance to China in 2019 to inspire young people there and has become a global superstar with significant endorsement deals, earning $23.1 million in 2025 mostly from sponsorships.
- Gu faces criticism for representing China due to geopolitical tensions and China's human rights record, but she has defended athletes speaking out on social issues while remaining non-committal on China’s controversies.
- At the 2026 Games, Gu continues to push boundaries by competing in three freestyle
