Freestyle skiing star Eileen Gu, who was born in San Francisco and competes for China, has faced renewed scrutiny from audiences in both countries over her choice of team, her refusal to clarify her citizenship status, and the scale of her endorsement and alleged state support as she heads toward the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Eileen Gu, a San Francisco-born freestyle skier who switched from representing the United States to China in 2019, has long attracted attention for her high-profile role on China’s national team and for declining to publicly address whether she holds U.S. citizenship, Chinese citizenship, or both.
The issue has periodically resurfaced because China does not recognize dual citizenship, while Olympic rules generally require athletes to be nationals of the country they represent. Gu has sidestepped direct questions about passports in the past, and the uncertainty has become a recurring point of online debate.
In recent months, Chinese social media users have circulated sarcastic nicknames and memes aimed at Gu’s perceived ability to benefit from both systems. Among them is “Gu Ai Qian,” a pun on her Chinese name, “Gu Ailing,” that implies she is motivated by money. Another meme repurposes the skincare slogan “Morning C, Evening A” to mock what critics frame as switching identities depending on the setting.
Gu has pushed back publicly. In a video post on Douyin, she said: “In the past five years, I’ve represented China in 41 international competitions and have won 39 medals for China. I have also introduced three chief coaches and donated freestyle skis to the national team, and continually advocated for China and women on the global stage. What have you done for the country?”
Money and sponsorships have intensified the controversy. A Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau budget document that was later altered after appearing online listed a combined $6.6 million payment connected to Gu and another U.S.-born athlete ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, with nearly $14 million referenced over a three-year period, according to a Wall Street Journal report that was cited by multiple outlets.
Separately, business rankings have placed Gu among the world’s highest-paid female athletes. Forbes estimated her 2025 earnings at about $23.1 million, with roughly $23 million attributed to endorsements. The Daily Wire cited Red Bull, Porsche, Louis Vuitton, Anta and TCL among the brands tied to her commercial portfolio.
Gu has also described her identity in bicultural terms. In earlier interviews, she said she feels “American” when in the United States and “Chinese” when in China.
In the United States, Gu has faced criticism from some commentators and social media users who view her decision to compete for China as a political statement amid strained U.S.-China relations. In China, some online criticism has focused on the perception that she receives treatment or funding unavailable to ordinary athletes—an allegation sharpened by the budget disclosure and by persistent questions about how her nationality status is handled under Chinese law.
The debate has also intersected with broader politics. In one widely cited exchange, Gu dismissed questions about the repression of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang by saying, “I don’t think it’s my business,” drawing criticism from some U.S.-based observers while others defended her decision to avoid geopolitical commentary.
