American-Born Skier Competing For China Says She Feels Like A Punching Bag After JD Vance’s Comments

Eileen Gu, the born-and-raised American Olympic skier competing for China, is firing back at Vice President J.D. Vance.

“I certainly think that someone who grew up in the United States of America who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that makes this country a great place, I would hope they want to compete with the United States of America. So, I’m going to root for American athletes, I think part of that is people who identify themselves as Americans. That’s who I’m rooting for in this Olympics,” Vance told Fox News host Martha MacCallum during a Tuesday interview, referencing Gu. (RELATED: Olympic Moms Keep Proving Eileen Gu Is A Selfish Idiot)

“I’m flattered. Thanks, JD! That’s sweet,” Gu said to USA Today.

JD Vance Suggests Eileen Gu Should Represent U.S. After “Benefiting” From American Systemhttps://t.co/g7ViTYa5TE pic.twitter.com/rc1b87K6HX

— Forbes (@Forbes) February 17, 2026

When asked if she feels “like a bit of a punching bag for a certain strand of American politics at the moment,” Gu confirmed she does. 

“I do,” Gu said, according to USA Today. “So many athletes compete for a different country … People only have a problem with me doing it because they kind of lump China into this monolithic entity, and they just hate China. So it’s not really about what they think it’s about.”

People might be more reserved in their criticism if Gu refrained from discussing politics altogether. But she doesn’t. She opines on abortion and Black Lives Matter and President Donald Trump while instantly shutting up when questioned on China’s human rights abuses. 

Not to mention the fact that China is one of the United States’ primary geopolitical rivals. 

Gu continued: “And also, because I win. Like if I wasn’t doing well, I think that they probably wouldn’t care as much, and that’s OK for me. People are entitled to their opinions.”

Americans are entitled to their opinions, yes. Opinions are more harshly regulated in countries like China, which Gu has represented since 2019. 

Gu won two gold medals and one silver medal at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. She’s earned two silver medals at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, and has another shot at medaling at the freestyle skiing halfpipe final this Saturday. (RELATED: Meet Eileen Gu, The True Villain Of The Winter Olympics)

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! ⛷️🤩

FIVE-TIME Olympic medallist Eileen Gu continues to break ceilings as she becomes the most decorated female freestyle skier in Olympic history, following two silver medals at @MilanoCortina2026! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vSnVEDpfBW

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) February 19, 2026

When asked if she saw her 2026 finishes as “two silvers gained or two golds lost,” Gu gave a loud laugh.

“I’m the most decorated female freeskier in history. I think that’s an answer in and of itself,” said Gu. “How do I say this? Winning a medal at the Olympics is a life-changing experience for every athlete. Doing it five times is exponentially harder.”

Disloyal and condescending. What’s not to love?

Follow Natalie Sandoval on X: @NatSandovalDC