Freestyle skiing icon Eileen Gu draws MAGA backlash after viral Olympic press reply reignites China citizenship controversy in Milan Cortina 2026
Nillohit Bagchi | Feb 25, 2026, 12:19 IST
Eileen Gu’s confident Olympic press room reply has gone viral after critics linked her silver medal response to the long running controversy over representing China instead of the United States. The freestyle skiing champion’s comments sparked sharp MAGA backlash online while supporters praised her mindset and record breaking success at Milan Cortina 2026.
Image credit : X/@FearBuck | Eileen Gu’s confident Olympic press room reply has gone viral after critics linked her silver medal response to the long running controversy over representing China instead of the United States
Freestyle skiing superstar Eileen Gu has once again found herself at the centre of global attention. This time, it was not for a gravity defying trick on snow but for a confident reply inside the Olympic press room. After winning silver in slopestyle and big air at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Gu was asked whether she viewed them as medals gained or gold medals lost. Her honest answer quickly went viral online.
Within hours, what started as a sporting question turned into a political storm, with MAGA aligned voices in the United States criticising both her response and her decision to represent China instead of America.
The 22 year old Olympic champion did not hesitate when a reporter suggested that her two silver medals could be seen as missed golds. Gu reminded the room that she is already the most decorated female freeskier in Olympic history. She explained that winning even one Olympic medal changes an athlete’s life, and doing it multiple times becomes harder because expectations continue to rise.Within hours, what started as a sporting question turned into a political storm, with MAGA aligned voices in the United States criticising both her response and her decision to represent China instead of America.
Eileen Gu shuts down medal question with confident reply
Did not expect a question that starts out 'Do you think before you speak?' to go so well. A+ question from Charlotte Harpur A++ response from Eileen Gu. pic.twitter.com/cvNJ6rSwl3
— sim (@simscircuit) February 23, 2026
She also made it clear that she competes because she loves the sport and not because she feels forced to live up to public expectations. Her calm but firm tone was praised by many fans who felt the question itself downplayed the value of an Olympic silver.
Viral moment triggers MAGA backlash online
Soon after the clip surfaced online, conservative commentator Megan Basham and other right-wing voices shared clips from her press conferences and criticised Gu’s remarks. She called the skier arrogant and even suggested that young girls should not look up to her.
The criticism quickly shifted from her sporting performance to a much older debate. Many right wing users brought up her 2019 decision to represent China, the country where her mother was born, instead of the United States where Gu grew up.
One user on X said, “Her academic and athletic achievements are incredible. I can see how that would intimidate some people.” Another wrote, “The reporter implied her silvers were lost golds. That question itself was rude. She answered with honesty.” However, some voices continued to question her loyalty, with some accusing her of choosing China for financial reasons linked to sponsorship deals.
Eileen Gu has previously explained that her decision was personal and rooted in her cultural identity. She has said she wanted to inspire young winter sports athletes in China and honour her maternal heritage. Despite this, her nationality choice has remained controversial, especially during times of political tension between the United States and China.
Supporters argue that Gu’s response reflects the mindset required to succeed at the highest level. Many athletes and fans pointed out that Olympic medals are never easy to win and should not be framed as failures.
With three Olympic golds and three silvers across two Winter Games, Gu continues to balance elite sport with her studies at Stanford and a global modelling career. Yet moments like this show that her journey will always remain closely watched both on and off the slopes.
Eileen Gu representing China still divides opinion - when it should not?
The latest Olympic moment once again reopened this debate, showing how an athlete’s identity can become a larger cultural issue beyond sport. However, such cases of athletes representing the country of their choice have been prominent in sports, and Eileen Gu only became a controversial point of focus when she decided to represent a nation that completely opposes the capitalist ideals.
Supporters defend Olympic champion’s mindset
Some Chinese and international fans praised her for pushing the boundaries of freestyle skiing and performing tricks that have never been attempted before by women in competition.
With three Olympic golds and three silvers across two Winter Games, Gu continues to balance elite sport with her studies at Stanford and a global modelling career. Yet moments like this show that her journey will always remain closely watched both on and off the slopes.
Who is 'El Pelon' Juan Carlos Valencia Gonzalez?
By Nillohit Bagchi
Why dystopian movies have us convinced we’re built different
By Iraa Paul
Was Decarlos Brown Jr really an illegal immigrant?
By Sneha Kumari
10 spring-core anime that feel like a soft reset for your soul
By Iraa Paul
Raw Mango’s London debut rewrote the script on Indian fashion
By Sneha Kumari
Tesla sales drop again as BYD surges ahead
By Nancy Jaiswal
Low-waist jeans are back and we are living our best Y2K life
By Iraa Paul
