Summary
Eileen Gu, a Chinese-American skier who was raised in the United States, received backlash in the U.S. for representing China in international competitions, where she won medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Retired NFL player Boomer Esiason criticized her in a radio show, leading to a mixed public response.
Key Facts
- Eileen Gu won three medals at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics: a gold in women's halfpipe and silver in big air and slopestyle.
- Gu was born and raised in the U.S. but chose to compete for China since 2019.
- Her decision to represent China has upset some Americans, including Boomer Esiason.
- Esiason called Gu "insufferable" in a radio show, resulting in public backlash against him.
- Gu has spoken about her decision, saying she wants to inspire Chinese youth due to a lack of athlete role models.
- The U.S. won 33 medals in total at the Milano Cortina Games, while China won 15 medals.
