- Team China freeskier Eileen Gu won two silver medals and became the most decorated female freestyle skier in Olympic history on Feb. 16.
- Eileen, who was born in the U.S. but has competed for China since 2019, has received backlash for not competing on behalf of Team USA.
- Team USA figure skater Alysa Liu, who is Chinese-American, recently weighed in on the “hypocritical” criticism surrounding Eileen.
Gold medalist Alysa Liu is in the thick of her post-Olympics press tour in the U.S., and America’s sweetheart took a moment to defend another Chinese-American athlete, Eileen Gu. In case you need a refresher, the freeskier—who was born in the U.S. but has competed for China since 2019—received backlash for not representing Team USA at this year’s Winter Olympics.
During a recent interview with the New York Times, Alysa was asked about the scenario as a Chinese-American who competed as a Team USA figure skater. Her take? Honestly iconic.
“I’ve known Eileen since I was 13 or something. We’re from the Bay Area. She’s super nice, and her mom is from China,” the Gold medalist said, adding that she “thinks people are hypocritical for shaming her for representing China.”
“So in my head it’s a bit hypocritical, because her mom is an immigrant. Y’all would have told her to go back to China. Now that they’re back in China, you’re mad,” she explained with a laugh.
Alysa continued, “It doesn’t matter what country we represent. Sport is sport, and she has a love for competition, she has love for the game. I think that’s all that matters. There’s no shame in going to where opportunity is.”
Eileen officially became the most decorated female freeskier in Olympic history after winning second place in the freeski slopestyle event on February 16.
She opened up about her history of competing for Team China at a press conference after the event, saying, “I’m here because I want to be, not just because it’s the default option for me. I’ve said if I wanted to retire and feel good about myself for the rest of my life, I could, but I don’t because I love this sport now more than ever.”
The five-time Olympic medalist added, “The feeling of pushing past who I was yesterday and becoming a little bit better tomorrow is something that is truly addictive and something that I’m so in love with. I think last Olympics was an opportunity and this Olympics is a privilege.”
We love to see queens supporting queens!!
