After securing two gold medals and a silver medal in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics at only 18 years of age, Eileen Gu made headlines around the world. She is the youngest Olympic champion and the first to win three medals in freestyle skiing. Over the past few months, Eileen garnered the attention of athletes, models, students, and parents alike, all the while being stuck in political crossfires. Despite all the controversy surrounding her name, Eileen has done what she has always done best: try her hardest to achieve her goals and move past the distractions along the way. But to understand what truly sets her apart as a role model, let’s take a closer look at Eileen Gu’s biography.
Biographical Information
Eileen Gu, also known as Gu Ailing (谷爱凌), was born in San Francisco, California on September 3, 2003, to a Chinese mother and an American father. Her mother, Yan Gu, raised Eileen as a single parent, with the help of Eileen’s grandmother. Yan Gu is a highly accomplished scholar and athlete herself. As for Eileen’s father, this topic has sparked many heated discussions. The identity of her father remains unknown since Eileen was donor-conceived, however, sources say that he was a Harvard graduate.
Athletics
Eileen started skiing at the age of eight, influenced by her mother’s passion for skiing. Little did she know that a decade later, she would win three Olympic medals in the sport. In addition, Eileen competed at the 2021 Winter X Games, obtaining a bronze medal in Big Air and two gold medals in SuperPipe and Slopestyle. At the FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships, she won two gold medals in Freeski Halfpipe and Freeski Slopestyle and a bronze medal in Freeski Big Air. Eileen’s achievements in skiing have motivated aspiring young skiers in China and set the standard for Chinese women in sports.
“In China, where the extreme sports scene is so underdeveloped compared to the U.S., there are almost none of those idols to look up to in skiing, and there are no female ones. I wanted to introduce snow sports and freeskiing in particular to Chinese people, and particularly to youth and girls… if I can just change one young girl’s life and show her one new passion or help break one boundary, then the decision was worth it.” –Eileen Gu
A series of Instagram stories that Eileen posted in February 2022 shared her progress in learning to ice skate. By day three, Eileen was able to glide smoothly over the ice and perform several spins on skates. These glimpses into her life further prove her athletic abilities and determination.
Academics
Not only is Eileen gifted in sports, but she is also a straight-A student in school. She scored 1580/1600 in her SAT examination. In January 2021, Eileen was recognized as a candidate for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, an elite national scholarship. Eileen graduated early from high school and received admission to Stanford University in February 2022. She will study at the Ivy League University starting in September 2022. Eileen also appeared in 2020 Forbes’ China 30 Under 30, being the youngest person to ever be included on the list.
“Eileen is incredibly smart and likes to make the skier boys feel dumb. She uses bigger words than they do . . . talks about things that go beyond skiing and hanging out. She throws chemistry stuff at them.” –Eileen’s former coach
Hobbies
In her spare time, Eileen enjoys (and excels at) playing the piano. For reference, check out 12-year-old Eileen performing at a piano recital posted on her mother Yan Gu’s YouTube channel. Eileen is also fluent in Mandarin Chinese and English due to her mixed ethnicity.
Modelling
A passionate influencer, star athlete, devoted scholar, talented musician… AND fashion model?! Standing at 1.68 meters (5’6″) tall, Eileen is signed with IMG Models and has modelled for luxury brands such as Fendi, Gucci and Louis Vuitton. She also has partnerships with Vogue, Victoria’s Secret, Tiffany & Co., IWC, Estée Lauder, Beats by Dre, Cadillac, and Red Bull. In September 2021, Eileen was Marie Claire China’s cover star as well as attended the U.S. Met Gala.
Politics/Controversy
So now you know more about Eileen Gu, you may be wondering what exactly caused her to be in the center of intense geopolitical debates. Many factors are in play, however, they mostly stem from one: her nationality. Eileen received criticism for training in the United States but competing for China in the Olympics as a Chinese-American. This decision has caused her to be under fire from Western media and the American public. Related to that is her citizenship status, which also invokes many opinions. Eileen was born in the US, meaning that she is an American citizen. This sparks some confusion, as China does not allow dual-citizenship, yet it permits Eileen to compete for the country. Regardless, Eileen’s achievements are her own, not for the US nor for China.
Another heated topic is the fact that Eileen chose to advocate for Western matters, such as the Black Lives Matter movement and anti-Asian hate, but does not voice her stance on affairs surrounding China. On one side of the argument, people say that the Chinese Communist Party is using Eileen as “propaganda” and treating her like a “puppet”. On the other side, people believe that Eileen should not be kicked around in political dirt or be involved in said issues.
Eileen should be able to choose the country she competes for, not only for herself but for others as well. As discussed earlier, Eileen longs to motivate younger generations and to be a trailblazer for Chinese-Americans. She aims to “unite people, promote common understanding, create communication, and forge friendships between nations” through skiing.
TL;DR
Eileen Gu powered through an inordinate amount of pressure that most would crumble under while picking up three Olympic medals along the way. We should all strive to be like Eileen (not necessarily her achievements but more so her traits). Assertive, motivated, respectful, determined, intelligent, well-rounded… the list goes on. Eileen Gu is the definition of a 21st-century prodigy; all hail Eileen!