U.S.-born freestyle skier Eileen Gu certainly has her share of detractors over her decision to represent China in the Olympics. Now, however, she claims those critics have progressed to assaulting her on the streets.
Gu, born in San Francisco to an American father and a Chinese mother, announced in 2019 that she would switch from competing for the United States to representing China. She cited her desire to honor her mother’s heritage and, as her feature story in The Athletic states, inspire young athletes there.
The outlet correctly questions that motivation. China has one of the largest numbers of ski areas in the world, with roughly 26 million skier visits in the 2024-25 season. They’re not hurting for inspiration.
That said, Gu herself has been inspired by money. Reports indicate that China has compensated the skier substantially for her allegiance, with the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau paying her and fellow U.S.-born athlete Zhu Yi a combined $6.6 million in 2025 alone, and nearly $14 million over the past three years to support their Olympic qualifications.
Eileen Gu is a US-born skier who is working for Communist China, a regime that wants to destroy our country.
— Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) February 17, 2026
There must be consequences for those who betray the United States and support our adversaries. pic.twitter.com/Qo7LBigrNa
Eileen Gu Claims Physical Assault Over China Olympics Decision
Amid her estimated $23 million in annual earnings, primarily from endorsements, Gu has faced sharp criticism for never publicly addressing China’s alleged human rights violations.
Regardless of the controversy, Gu claims she’s been attacked on the Stanford University campus for representing China.
“Physically assaulted on the street,” Gu told The Athletic. “The police were called. I’ve had death threats. I’ve had my dorm robbed.”
“I’ve gone through some things as a 22-year-old that I really think no one should ever have to endure, ever,” she added.
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Thus far, there appears to be nothing backing up Gu’s claims. The Athletic reached out to Stanford police, which referred them to the university’s public safety department. The department has not responded publicly to confirm or deny as of yet.
Without further documentation or third-party substantiation emerging, the claim remains unverified and based entirely on Gu’s account.
The Chinese Olympian has taken significant heat for her unpatritotic decision, most recently from Vice President JD Vance.
“I certainly think that someone who grew up in the United States of America who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that makes this country a great place, I would hope they want to compete with the United States of America,” he said.
The 22-year-old Stanford University student won two gold medals and one silver medal for China at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, followed by two silver medals at the 2026 Games in Italy.