“adjacent To Treason”: Eileen Gu’s Silver Olympic Medal Marred By China Citizenship Controversy

Eileen Gu’s 2nd Winter Olympics isn’t unfolding pinch nan aforesaid aureate glow arsenic her historical Beijing debut. But if her guidance to winning metallic successful women’s freeski large aerial is immoderate indication, disappointment was ne'er portion of nan equation.

Gu, nan American-born skier who now represents China, delivered 2 composed runs nether punishing conditions successful Livigno, yet finishing 2nd down Canada’s Megan Oldham, pinch Italy’s Flora Tabanelli taking bronze. Against a deeper and much technically fierce section than 4 years ago, Gu simply sewage hit — not outclassed.

Her first run, a cleanable double cork 1440, scored a commanding 90.00. A little convincing 2nd effort near her susceptible heading into nan last round. Then came nan infinitesimal that defined her night: a perfectly executed left-side double cork 1260 connected her past run, punctuated by a fist-pump arsenic her 89.00 people locked successful silver.

It was Gu’s 2nd badge of nan Games, adding to her slopestyle silver, pinch nan halfpipe — wherever she is nan defending Olympic champion — still to come. From a sporting perspective, it was a consequence astir athletes would observe without hesitation.

But Gu’s Olympic communicative has ne'er existed purely wrong nan boundaries of sport.

A badge weighed down by identity

Since switching allegiance from nan United States to China successful 2019, Gu has occupied a uniquely contested abstraction successful world athletics — celebrated arsenic a awesome of China’s wintertime sports ambitions while remaining profoundly rooted successful American life. Born and raised successful San Francisco, knowledgeable astatine Stanford, and fluent successful nan taste codes of some countries, Gu has agelong described herself arsenic belonging to some worlds.

“Since I was little, I’ve ever said erstwhile I’m successful nan U.S., I’m American, but erstwhile I’m successful China, I’m Chinese,” Gu told ESPN.com successful a caller question and reply starring up to International Women’s Day. “I sphere it by having friends and being capable to pass pinch group because that’s nan champion measurement to transmit culture.”

Read more: US Media Coverage Of Asian American Olympians Acts As A ‘Loyalty Test’, Study Finds

Yet that duality has progressively been met pinch scepticism. China does not let dual citizenship — a truth that continues to substance speculation complete really Gu navigates 2 nationalist systems pinch conflicting rules. Those questions resurfaced past twelvemonth erstwhile a Beijing metropolis authorities archive appeared to database millions successful nationalist backing allocated to Gu’s Olympic preparation, earlier references to her were softly removed.

The scrutiny has only intensified successful Milano.

Soft powerfulness and nationalist backlash

Gu’s mostly affirmative curen successful Chinese and world media stands successful opposition to nan disapproval she faces from immoderate American commentators, who position her determination arsenic a rejection of nationalist loyalty alternatively than a individual aliases taste choice.

Charles Cooke described Gu’s choice, though, “not successful nan ineligible sense, of people . . . adjacent to treason.”

“She chose to correspond a communist dictatorship complete nan United States,” Cooke pointed out. “That is nan incorrect call.”

Cooke went further, adding: “If, successful nan 1970s, an American had gone to Russia and done this, it would person been instantly evident really grotesque that was. I don’t spot immoderate difference. So I dislike this. I deliberation anyone who’s patriotic should dislike this.”

Former NBA subordinate Enes Kanter Freedom besides described Gu arsenic a “traitor” who “was calved successful America, raised successful America, lives successful America and chose to compete against her ain state for nan worst quality authorities abuser connected nan satellite – China.”

Others reason nan backlash reveals much astir modern nationalism than Gu herself — peculiarly successful an era wherever athletes usability arsenic some competitors and geopolitical symbols. Unlike past Olympians who softly changed flags, Gu does truthful while fronting luxury manner campaigns, appearing connected mag covers, and embodying China’s bid to globalise its taste image.

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At conscionable 22, Gu is 1 of nan astir commercially successful female athletes successful nan world, earning tens of millions done endorsements while collecting medals for China connected nan world’s biggest stage. Her occurrence has turned her into a lightning rod — praised arsenic a span betwixt cultures by some, condemned arsenic opportunistic by others.