Legacy Media Forgets To Mention That American-Born Olympian Defected To Compete For China

American-born freestyle skiing star Eileen Gu will again compete for China at next month’s Winter Olympics, and mainstream media outlets are largely glossing over the fact that she abandoned the country that raised and trained her.

Conservative commentator Bonchie noted on X that Gu “defected and competed for China despite being born in America,” calling it “probably something a journalistic outlet should mention” after ABC News neglected to address that Gu is competing for China. (RELATED: Barack Obama Really Wants You To Believe Mainstream Media Gets It Right)

Gu, 22, defended her decision in a recent Time Magazine interview, saying the United States “already has the representation” and that she prefers “building my own pond.” The two-time Olympic gold medalist also insisted that lucrative Chinese sponsorship deals played no role in her choice. “I’m glad that there’s enough money in the sport now for people to think that’s a consideration,” she told Time.

NBC Olympics’ athlete biography describes Gu as someone who “switched nationalities” without mentioning her refusal to address citizenship questions. The Washington Post’s recent coverage of her Laax Open victory focused entirely on her performance and made no reference to her decision to leave Team USA.

Sports Illustrated focused on her torch relay appearance and fashion career while describing her only as a “San Francisco native” who “represented the People’s Republic of China” at the 2022 Games. None of the outlets noted that she built her career through American training and infrastructure before switching allegiances.

Gu competed in three World Cups for the U.S. during the 2018-2019 season. Tiger Shaw, then president of U.S. Ski and Snowboard, personally met with Gu and her mother in Park City, Utah, to pitch a plan for supporting her career. “We took our best shot,” Shaw told Time. “We were sad to lose her.”

For China.

She defected and competed for China despite being born in America. Probably something a journalistic outlet should mention. https://t.co/2maPA7NEQq

— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) January 24, 2026

Gu announced her switch to China in June 2019 at age 15.

China does not permit dual citizenship, yet no evidence suggests Gu renounced her American passport. She dodged questions about her citizenship during the 2022 Beijing Games, the New York Post reported. Time noted she again refused to engage on the topic. “I don’t really see how that’s relevant,” Gu said.

During the 2022 Olympics, Fox News host Will Cain called Gu “ungrateful” for turning “her back on the country that not just raised her, but turned her into a world-class skier.” Cain said her decision was “shameful” and that she “definitely sold out.”

When asked about China‘s human rights record, Gu told Time she is “not an expert” and has not “done the research.”

Gu enters the 2026 Milano Cortina Games as the heavy favorite to defend her titles.