American-born skier Eileen Gu, competing for Team China, has faced significant backlash during the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics for her choice, with Vice President JD Vance expressing disappointment that she did not represent the U.S. Gu acknowledged feeling like a “punching bag” for political criticism, stating that athletes often switch nationalities without such scrutiny. She revealed experiencing severe personal attacks, including threats and robbery. Gu, who has won silver medals in her events, continues to perform amid the controversy.
