Why Eileen Gu competes for China at Milano Cortina Olympics

Eileen Gu, born in San Francisco, just won silver in slopestyle at Milano Cortina 2026 while competing for China. The 22-year-old freestyle skiing star switched countries at age 15 in 2019. Her decision sparked international controversy, yet she continues dominating the podium as one of the world’s highest-paid athletes.

Why She Chose China Over the United States

Representation was the driving force behind Eileen Gu’s decision. She stated that the U.S. already has strong representation in women’s skiing. “I like building my own pond,” she explained, wanting to create opportunities in China’s freestyle skiing community. Her mother immigrated from Beijing, and Gu spent summers in China throughout her childhood, deepening her connection to the nation. She viewed the switch as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help promote the sport I love.”

The move came after Gu competed for Team USA in three World Cup slopestyle events during 2018-19. When she formally requested to change nationalities in 2019, the decision immediately became controversial among American skiing fans and international observers.

Her Dominant Performance at Beijing 2022

Eileen Gu’s decision to represent China paid dividends immediately. At Beijing 2022, just three years after switching countries, she captured three medals including two golds. Her performances were nothing short of spectacular and history-making. She won gold in halfpipe and gold in big air, becoming the first freestyle skier to win multiple golds at a single Winter Olympics. She also claimed silver in slopestyle that same year.

At just 18 years old during Beijing, Gu became the youngest Olympic champion in freestyle skiing history. Her standout moment came when she landed a double cork 1620 in the big air final. “My whole thing was, it’s all upside,” she recalled. “Because if I land, I will win the Olympics. If I don’t land, I get to make history.”

Her Background and Cultural Identity

Eileen Gu Ailing represents a unique bridge between American and Chinese cultures. Her father is American, while her mother, Gu Yan, is a first-generation immigrant from China who attended Stanford University. Gu herself was raised primarily by her mother and maternal grandmother. She was born in San Francisco but spent significant time in Beijing during summer months.

Aspect	Details
Birthplace	San Francisco, California, USA
Current Education	Stanford University, International Relations major
Citizenship	Chinese (renounced US citizenship in 2019)
Beijing Competition	2 golds, 1 silver across halfpipe, big air, slopestyle

In a 2021 ESPN interview, Gu explained her dual identity: “Since I was little, I’ve always said when I’m in the U.S., I’m American, but when I’m in China, I’m Chinese.” She emphasized that she preserves her cultural connections by maintaining friendships and communication skills in both countries.

“The U.S. already has the representation. I like building my own pond.”

— Eileen Gu, on why she chose to compete for China

Global Stardom and Unprecedented Earnings

Eileen Gu’s financial success is staggering and unprecedented for a young athlete. According to The Athletic and Forbes, she earned approximately $23 million in 2025. Remarkably, only $100,000 of that came from actual skiing competitions. The remainder stems from modeling and high-profile endorsement deals. She works with more than 20 major brands including Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Victoria’s Secret, IWC Schaffhausen, Porsche, Red Bull, and TCL Electronics. Gu models for IMG, one of the world’s premier talent agencies, and has appeared in international fashion magazines across America and China. She earns consistently among the world’s highest-paid female athletes each year since her Beijing triumph.

Recent scrutiny emerged when Beijing city government documents revealed $6.6 million in designated training funds for Gu and figure skater Beverly Zhu ahead of Milano 2026. This investment underscores China’s commitment to supporting its freestyle skiing star as she pursues additional medals.

What Comes Next for Eileen Gu at Milano Cortina?

Eileen Gu has yet to complete her Milano Cortina campaign as of February 9, 2026. She already captured silver in women’s slopestyle, adding to her impressive four-medal Olympic total. With multiple freestyle events still to come, she has several opportunities to claim more medals. Her goal of building pride in Chinese freestyle skiing continues through each competition. Can she expand her medal collection beyond four, or will her opponents finally dethrone the dominant American-born star? The answer lies in her remaining performances at these Italian Winter Games.

Sources

• Sporting News – Coverage of Eileen Gu’s decision to compete for China and her Olympic journey at Milano Cortina 2026
• Yahoo Sports – Detailed analysis of her background, citizenship switch, and earnings breakdown
• Olympics.com – Official Olympic results and athlete information from Beijing 2022 and Milano Cortina 2026