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Why is Eileen Gu skiing for China? Chinese Americans win gold medal in inheritance decision



Eileen Gu fulfilled her Olympic dream on Tuesday when the 18-year-old won a gold medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Gu did so with an impressive move in her final run in the women’s major aerial competition: a 1620 double corkscrew, which involved four-and-a-half spins in the air. This was her first time trying to move, and it came at the perfect time. It earned her a score of 188.25, just 0.75 more than silver medalist Tess Ledeux of France.

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But the gold medal won’t be part of Team America’s final medal tally. That’s because Gu, a Chinese-American born and raised in San Francisco and who will attend Stanford University in the fall, is representing China at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

It was a decision sure to draw criticism from her home country, especially as the US was in the midst of a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics. Her success at these Olympics – she will also compete in sporting events and half-competitors – will only further accentuate that choice.

Sporting News has everything you need to know about Gu’s decision to represent China instead of the US, including her citizenship and citizenship and business ventures.

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Why is Eileen Gu skiing for China instead of America?

Gu, whose father is American and mother is Chinese, was raised by his mother and grandmother. Because of this, she has maintained a deep connection and appreciation for her Chinese heritage, despite growing up in America.

That appreciation, her relationship with her mother – indeed, it was she who encouraged her to try freestyle skiing – and her desire to “promote common understanding” that led her to choose the agent. for China instead of the homeland.

Here’s a June 2019 Instagram post in which Gu originally announced his decision to represent China:

“I have decided to compete for China at the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics. This was an extremely difficult decision for me,” Gu wrote. “I am extremely grateful to US Ski & Snowboard and the China Ski Association for giving me the vision and belief to make my dream come true. I’m proud of my heritage, and also proud of my American upbringing.

“The opportunity to help inspire millions of young people where my mother was born, during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help promote the sport I love. Through skiing, I hope to unite people, promote common understanding, create communication and forge friendship between nations. If I can help inspire a young girl to break boundaries, my wish will come true. ”

Although Gu doesn’t explicitly mention it, she also has significant funding opportunities. The 18-year-old is fluent in both English and Mandarin, sponsored by Red Bull, Victoria’s Secret, Oakley and Bank of China, among others. She has also modeled for Estee Lauder, Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton. She has also been placed at the top of China’s Olympic coverage.

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Does Eileen Gu have dual citizenship in the US and China?

Gu gave vague answers about her citizenship while in Beijing.

“I definitely feel like I’m both American and Chinese,” Gu said in Beijing on Tuesday after winning the gold medal. “I am American when I am in America and Chinese when I am in China, and I have been candid about my gratitude to both the United States and China for making me the person I am today.”

Gu’s answer raised the question of where exactly her nationality is. It should be noted that China does not allow dual citizenship, according to Article 3 of its Nationality Law.

“I don’t feel like I’m taking advantage of one or the other as both are incredibly supportive of me and continue to support me because they understand that it’s my duty to use sport as a motivator for the team. She said, “Let’s use it as a form of promoting cohesion between countries, not as a force to divide. So it’s in everyone’s interest, and if you don’t agree with that, I feel it’s someone else’s problem.”

Gu targets anyone who doesn’t support her choice to represent China, which she considers apolitical and selfless.

“I’m an 18-year-old girl here living her best life,” she said. “Like, I’m having a great time. It doesn’t matter if the other person is happy because I feel as though I’m doing my best to enjoy the whole process and use my voice to make the most positive change possible for the future. who will listen to me in a personal and relevant field to myself.

“I know I have a good heart and I know my reason for making the decisions I make is based on the greater common good and something that I feel is for the greater good. So if other people don’t really believe that’s where I’m from, it just reflects that they don’t have the empathy to empathize with a good heart, perhaps because they don’t have the same kind of morals as me,” she continued. “And in that sense, I won’t waste my time trying to appease those who one, uneducated and two, will probably never experience the feeling of joy and gratitude and just love that I have great luck to experience everyday.

“If people don’t believe me and if people don’t like me, it’s their loss. They will never win the Olympics. “





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