Eileen Gu responds to criticism over Staff China determination at Olympics

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American-born Staff China skier Eileen Gu responded to the worldwide criticism she has obtained through the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Her determination to compete for China regardless of being born within the U.S. has made her a goal for People and others the world over, with Vice President JD Vance chiming in by saying he hopes athletes born right here would "wish to compete with america of America."

Gu was requested if she at the moment feels "like a little bit of a punching bag for a sure strand of American politics" after her competitors on Thursday.

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Silver medalist Eileen Gu of China attends the award ceremony of the freestyle snowboarding girls's freeski massive air occasion on the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Video games in Livigno, Italy, Feb. 16, 2026. (Hongxiang/Xinhua through Getty Pictures)

"I do," she stated, per USA Right this moment. "So many athletes compete for a special nation. ... Folks solely have an issue with me doing it as a result of they type of lump China into this monolithic entity, and so they simply hate China. So it is probably not about what they suppose it is about.

"And likewise, as a result of I win. Like if I wasn't doing properly, I feel that they in all probability would not care as a lot, and that is OK for me. Individuals are entitled to their opinions."

Gu has beforehand stated she was "bodily assaulted" for her determination to symbolize China.

"The police had been known as. I’ve had loss of life threats. I’ve had my dorm robbed," Gu instructed The Athletic. "I’ve gone via some issues as a 22-year-old that I actually suppose nobody ought to ever should endure, ever."

EILEEN GU GARNERS BACKLASH FOR COMMENTING ON TRUMP'S STATEMENT WHILE REPRESENTING CHINA

Silver medalist Eileen Gu of China poses for pictures after the awarding ceremony of the freestyle snowboarding girls's freeski massive air occasion on the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Video games in Livigno, Italy, Feb. 16, 2026. (Wang Peng/Xinhua through Getty Pictures)

Gu will compete within the girls's freestyle snowboarding halfpipe ultimate on Thursday aftermwinning silvers in her first two occasions.

Will probably be the climax of an Olympics outlined by immense world criticism for Gu.

The Wall Avenue Journal reported final week that Gu and Zhu Yi, a fellow American-born determine skater who now competes for China, had been paid a mixed $6.6 million by the Beijing Municipal Sports activities Bureau in 2025 for "striving for glorious leads to qualifying for the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics." In all, the 2 had been reportedly paid practically $14 million over the previous three years.

Vance weighed in on the controversy surrounding Gu in a Tuesday interview on Fox Information' "The Story With Martha MacCallum."

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(left) Staff China skier Eileen Gu, (proper) Vice President JD Vance (Getty Pictures)

"I definitely suppose that somebody who grew up in america of America who benefited from our training system, from the freedoms and liberties that makes this nation an ideal place, I might hope they wish to compete with america of America," Vance stated on "The Story With Martha MacCallum."

"So, I'll root for American athletes, I feel a part of that's individuals who establish themselves as People. That is who I am rooting for on this Olympics."

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Jackson Thompson is a sports activities reporter for Fox Information Digital protecting essential political and cultural points in sports activities, with an investigative lens. Jackson's reporting has been cited in federal authorities actions associated to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media shops together with The New York Occasions, The Los Angeles Occasions, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Related Press and ESPN.com.