Winter Olympian Eileen Gu was born in the United States, but famously chose to represent China on the international stage.
The 22-year-old skier, who is Chinese-American, has been representing China at the Winter Olympics since 2022. Gu, who was born in California, has three Winter Olympics gold medals and three silver medals. She’s already one of the most decorated female Winter Olympians of all-time, despite being just 22.
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Gu, who is one of the most marketable female athletes in the world, has landed some big-time endorsements for the 2026 World Cup, held in the United States.
Feb 16, 2026; Livigno, Italy; Silver medalist Ailing Eileen Gu of the People’s Republic of China celebrates during the medal ceremony for the women’s big air final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images© Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images.
Ahead of the World Cup semifinal game between Spain and France on Tuesday, Gu was spotted in a Spain jersey, as part of a partnership with TCL.
Eileen Gu at World Cup.Gu/IG
It’s unclear if Gu is simply fulfilling partnership duties or rooting hard for Spain, but an athlete born in America, who competes internationally for China, rocking a Spain jersey at the World Cup is quite the picture.
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Gu has defended her decision to represent China
Gu announced back in 2022 that she would be representing China.
“This was an incredibly tough decision for me to make. I am extremely thankful for U.S. Ski & Snowboard and the Chinese Ski Association for having the vision and belief in me to make my dreams come true. I am proud of my heritage, and equally proud of my American upbringings.”
She added, “The opportunity to help inspire millions of young people where my mom was born, during the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help to promote the sport I love. Through skiing, I hope to unite people, promote common understanding, create communication, and forge friendships between nations. If I can help to inspire one young girl to break a boundary, my wishes will have come true.”
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The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, meanwhile, continues Tuesday and Wednesday on FOX.
This story was originally published by The Spun on Jul 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the Olympics section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
