Olympic Skier Eileen Gu Embraces Her Dual Cultural Identities
During the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, freestyle skier Eileen Gu’s decision to represent China received backlash from the U.S. Three years ago, the 18-year-old San Francisco native had already represented China in prominent skiing competitions as she strives to embrace both her Chinese and American identities.
Her famous line, “When I’m in the U.S., I’m American, but when I’m in China, I’m Chinese,” resonates deeply with other Asian Americans who also grew up with dual cultural identities. Ever since she was 2 years old, Gu spent her summers in Beijing and revealed it was her mother who helped keep her in touch with her Chinese heritage.
Her goal is to be a role model for Chinese girls, as there are few elite female alpine skiers in China. “Growing up in the U.S., I had so many amazing idols to look up to. But in China, I feel like there are a lot fewer of those. I’d have a much greater impact in China than in the U.S., and that’s ultimately why I made that decision,” she told the Associated Press.
In her Instagram post, she wrote that it was “an incredibly tough decision,” but hopes to “unite people, create understanding, create communication, and forge friendships between nations.”
Gu is not the only Chinese American who made this choice. Although figure skater Zhu Yi also decided to represent China from 2018 onward, she has been criticized by Chinese media outlets after crashing into a wall in the Women’s Free Skate program. If Gu had not won so many medals, she would not have been embraced by Chinese citizens as enthusiastically.
Due to Gu’s medal-earning routines, her popularity in China has soared, and she was featured alongside boyband TFBoys member Jackson Yee in Olympic ad posters. She is ranked among the highest-paid international female athletes in China, in the same league as Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams, says The Wall Street Journal. Gu has racked up endorsements with over 30 Chinese and international brands such as Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton. Usually, athletes are not allowed to freely choose endorsements, as they may conflict with the national team or Olympic sponsors. However, this remains an exception for Gu because of her status as an elite athlete.
Many question if Gu’s loyalties lie with the U.S. or China. Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson criticizes her for being a “traitor.” South Carolina’s first female governor, Nikki Haley, points to China’s human rights violations and condemns Gu, “You’ve got to pick a side, because you’re either American or you’re Chinese, and they are very different countries.”
Despite her critics, Gu does not seem to think that she has to choose her allegiance to one country exclusively. She continues to reside in California with her maternal grandmother and mother, and will be attending Stanford University in the fall of 2022.
While Gu’s actions may infuriate some Americans, others admire her boldness. New York City resident, Sarah Belle Lin, told The New York Times she sees Gu as “somebody who isn’t afraid to love her identities and share that with people” and praises the athlete for being “brave.”
It is no doubt that this three-time Olympic medalist is extremely talented, and will continue to be followed for her every move. Her mission to unite people through skiing will inspire more girls to pursue lives where they place passions as priorities, but more importantly, Eileen Gu has also opened up compelling conversations about cultural identities and what it means to be Asian American.
Sources: Wall Street Journal, NY Times, NBC Sports, Women’s Health
This article is written by Vivian H. for JayneStars.com.