Eileen Gu, who grew up in the United States and attends Stanford, is representing China at the Winter Olympics this year, continuing a trend she started back in 2019.
She competed in three World Cups for the U.S. during the 2018–2019 season, finishing 11th, second, and first in three slopestyle events before eventually flipping to China, where her mother was born.
“The U.S. already has the representation,” Gu explained in the leadup to the Olympics in Italy. “I like building my own pond.” She insists the potential to earn more representing Chinese companies didn’t cross her mind. “I’m glad that there’s enough money in the sport now for people to think that’s a consideration.”
While representing China, she failed to defend her gold medal from the 2022 Winter Olympics.
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However, Gu made history as the most-decorated women’s freeskier in history after earning a silver medal on Monday, Feb. 16. After taking some time to let the moment soak in, she took to Instagram with a new message for her supporters after winning the silver medal in the freeski big air.
“Most Olympic medals in freeski history. Thank you @olympics,” she said.
Canada’s Megan Oldham took home the gold medal, earning just the second gold medal for Canada at the Olympics thus far, while Italy’s Flora Tabanelli earned the bronze medal.
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