Eileen Gu Hits Back at VP JD Vance Over China Remarks

Olympic skier Eileen Gu responded to Vice President JD Vance's criticism for representing China at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. Gu, 22, expressed feeling like a target for a certain American political stance, noting that people are critical because of animosity towards China, rather than the actual issue.

Gu, a five-time Olympic medalist in freestyle skiing, is the most decorated athlete in her sport's history. She recently won a silver medal in the women's freeski slopestyle event. Born in San Francisco, she chose to represent China, her mother's home country, at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

She explained her decision to compete for China, emphasizing her pride in her heritage and the opportunity to inspire young people where her mother was born. Gu, who is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, believed she could have a greater impact in China than in the U.S., influencing her choice.

Vance criticized Gu for representing China internationally, stating his support for American athletes. He urged athletes to bring the country together and represent both Democrats and Republicans during the Winter Olympics. President Donald Trump also expressed criticism towards U.S. skier Hunter Hess for not feeling he represented his country during the current political climate.