Who is Eileen Gu? The ‘inspirational’ star of the Winter Olympics sparking debate

The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are in full swing, and there’s one particular athlete that everyone is talking about. That would be Eileen Gu, a freestyle skier who was born in the United States (San Francisco, specifically) but represents China in the halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air events. Outside of her sport, the 22-year-old is studying quantum physics at Stanford University, she’s also graced the cover of Vogue Hong Kong and China’s In Style Magazine, and has 2 million Instagram followers, making waves as she seeks to redefine what it means to be an athlete in 2026. “I’m a full-time…