Profile | Eileen Gu, the part-time teen model and world champion skier tasked with leading China’s Winter Olympics medal push
- From winning historic gold medals to dealing with anti-Asian racism, Gu wants to pave the way for China’s next generation of female skiers
- Touted as a half-pipe shoo-in at next month’s Games, here’s what you need to know about her Chinese heritage and values
Two years ago, Eileen Gu Ailing made a decision that may have unknowingly changed the course of freestyle skiing.
Though she has often reiterated her pride for her American upbringing and Chinese heritage, Gu hoped to use her generational talents and ever-rising platform to help push China’s ambition of putting 300 million people into ice and snow sports.
China confirmed in January it had reached the milestone ahead of its home Beijing 2022 Winter Games (February 4 to 20), while “snow princess” Gu is fast becoming a household name and has graced the covers of several fashion magazines – but the world champion teen is just getting started.
US-born Gu, 18, speaks fluent English and Mandarin. Beijing-native mother Yan was always keen to imprint Chinese culture and values on her daughter having emigrated to the States and raising her in San Francisco.
