Grandma's Influence on Olympian Eileen Gu's Courage at Winter Games

Olympic skier Eileen Gu, the most decorated freeskier in history, recently won three more medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics. She paid tribute to her late grandmother, who passed away before the event. Gu shared her emotions on social media, fulfilling a promise she made to her grandmother to be brave like her.

During a press conference on February 22, Gu revealed that she had just learned about her grandmother's passing after securing a gold medal in the women's halfpipe event. She described her grandmother as a significant influence in her life and expressed gratitude for her strength and inspiration.

Gu, who also won a gold medal at the 2022 Olympics, spoke about her late grandmother's impact on her life, emphasizing the importance of bravery and taking risks. She acknowledged that it was a challenging time for her but felt proud to have honored her promise to her grandmother.

Eileen Gu's Response to Critics

Despite being born and raised in San Francisco, Gu chose to represent China in the Olympics, where her mother hails from. This decision drew criticism from United States Vice President J.D. Vance, who expressed disappointment in her choice. Gu responded by thanking Vance for his comments and acknowledged feeling targeted by a certain segment of American politics.

Gu's achievements in freestyle skiing have made her the most decorated freeskier of all time, regardless of gender. She highlighted the mental and competitive strength required for her success, emphasizing that gender is not a determining factor in her accomplishments.