Two-time Olympic champion Eileen Gu claims her desire to inspire a new generation was behind her controversial decision to represent China over the United States.
The freestyle skiing star was born in California but Gu will once again be part of the Chinese team for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina.
The 22-year-old came under fire in 2022 after opting to ski for China – rather the United States – ahead of the Beijing Games.
Gu – the daughter of an American father and a Chinese mother – went on to win gold medals in both the women’s freeski big air and the freeski halfpipe, as well as silver in the freeski slopestyle.
Four years on, the 22-year-old explained that she wanted to represent China because she believed she could inspire more youngsters – especially girls – to take up freestyle skiing, which wasn’t popular in her mother’s homeland.
‘The US already has the representation,’ Gu told Time Magazine. ‘I like building my own pond.’
According to Time, the 22-year-old denies that the opportunity to earn more money – through representing Chinese companies – did not play a role in her decision.
Eileen Gu claims her desire to inspire others was behind her decision to represent China
The freestyle skiing star was born in California but will ski for China at the Winter Olympics
‘The US already has the representation… I like building my own pond,’ Gu claimed
‘I’m glad that there’s enough money in the sport now for people to think that’s a consideration,’ the Olympic champion said.
Gu grew up in San Francisco but estimated before the last Olympics that at least a quarter of her life had been spent in the Far East. That did not stop her from coming in for criticism.
In the aftermath of victory in Beijing, Gu was quizzed about her citizenship status. China does not allow dual citizenship and state media previously reported that she renounced her US citizenship after she became a Chinese national aged 15.
But Gu dodged questions about whether she had given up her US citizenship four years ago. And she told TIME: ‘I don’t really see how that’s relevant.’
Gu is expected to add to her Olympic medal haul at Milan Cortina. On Saturday, she shook off a crash and celebrated her second straight slopestyle title at the Laax Open.
Gu had already locked up victory when she fell hard on her right side with one ski and her poles flying off.
Slopestyle is the only event where Gu fell short of gold at the Beijing Games four years ago and she will head to Milan Cortina as favorite to add it to her Olympic medals collection.
