NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
Eileen Gu, the controversial American-born American skier, ended her run at the 2026 Winter Olympics with a gold medal in the women’s freeski halfpipe event.
Gu took out the gold medal during his last run of the event. He scored 94.75 – just 0.75 points better than his second runner-up. No one came close to touching his mark. His Chinese counterpart Li Fangui couldn’t do better than 93.00. Britain’s Zoe Atkin took the bronze medal with 92.50 points.
Gu scored 94.00 on his second run. The win is his second straight gold medal in the halfpipe.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH ONE OF THE GAMES ON FOXNEWS.COM
Gold medalist Eileen Gu of China poses with her medals after winning the freestyle skiing halfpipe final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
He ended his run at the Milan Cortina Games with three medals in total – gold in the halfpipe event and silver in the high wind and slopestyle. He has six awards on his CV.
Gu is already the most decorated freeskier in the short history of the Olympics.
“The reason why I like records so much is that there is no male or female,” said Gu. “I’m the most decorated freeskier of all time, male or female. … That’s a testament to competitive strength, mental strength. Being able to perform under pressure. It has nothing to do (with) whether you’re a boy or a girl.”
Gu has been criticized a lot for his decision to fight for the country of China since the Vice President of the United States JD Vance was one of the critics of this athlete.
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Gu and Zhu Yi, another American-born skater competing in China, were paid 6.6 million yuan by the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau in 2025 “for striving for the best qualifying results for the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics.” In total, the two have reportedly been paid an estimated $14 million over the past three years.
Eileen Gu of China competes during the freestyle skiing halfpipe final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
US OLYMPIAN ALYSA LIU WAS TARGETED BY CHINESE SPIES – HERE’S WHAT SHE’S NOT SAYING ABOUT IT
Vance weighed in on the controversy surrounding Gu in a Tuesday interview on Fox News’ “The Martha MacCallum Affair.”
“I certainly think that a person who grew up in the United States of America who benefited from our education system, the freedom and liberty that makes this country a good place, I would hope that he wants to compete with the United States of America,” he said.
“So, I’m going to focus on the American athletes. I think part of that is the people who define themselves as Americans. That’s who I’m representing in these Olympics.”
Gu admitted that he feels like “a punching bag for a certain American political chain.”
“I do,” he said, per USA Today. “A lot of athletes compete for a different country. … People just have a problem with me doing it because they put China in this monolithic organization, and they hate China. So it’s not really about what they think it’s about.
Gold medalist Eileen Gu of China celebrates winning the freestyle skiing halfpipe final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
“And again, because I’m winning. Like if I wasn’t doing well, I think they probably wouldn’t bother me as much, and that’s fine with me. People are entitled to their opinions.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
Earlier, Gu said he was “beaten” by his decision to represent China.
Jackson Thompson of Fox News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle.
