US Vice President JD Vance has declared he will only support athletes who identify as American at the 2026 Winter Olympics, explicitly excluding "Snow Princess" Eileen Gu. During a Fox News interview on 17/2, anchor Martha MacCallum questioned Vance about freestyle skier Eileen Gu, who was born and raised in San Francisco but competes for China. MacCallum asked, "What do you think her status should be? Should it change?".

Vance, 41, responded that he did not know what Gu's status should be, as it was a matter for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and he did not want to interfere. "I just think that someone who grows up in America, benefits from our education system, from the freedoms and values that make this country great, I hope they would want to compete for the US," Vance added. "I will only cheer for American athletes, including those who identify as American."

US Vice President JD Vance discusses Chinese freestyle skier Eileen Gu. Photo: Reuters

Earlier in the interview, MacCallum noted that many Americans view Gu's decision to compete for China as an act of treason, also raising concerns about China's human rights record.

Eileen Gu (Coc Ai Lang), 22, was born and raised in San Francisco, California. Her mother is a Chinese immigrant, and her father is American. She attends Stanford University and has represented China in international competitions since 2019. Gu once stated, "When I am in China, I am Chinese. When I am in the US, I am American."

At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, Gu secured two silver medals in slopestyle and big air events. During the 2022 Winter Olympics, she earned two gold medals and one silver for China. Gu is currently the highest-earning athlete at the 2026 Winter Olympics, with income reaching 23 million USD, primarily from sponsorship deals in China.

Chinese fans have dubbed Gu the "Snow Princess," and she often becomes a trending topic on Weibo social media whenever she competes. The 22-year-old athlete has faced criticism from some US commentators for her decision to compete for China. She has reported experiencing attacks on her university campus, receiving threats, and frequently being questioned about politics rather than her athletic performance.

Mediaite, a US news outlet, also noted that some American athletes have expressed mixed feelings about competing for the US team. Former President Donald Trump previously criticized athlete Hunter Hess, labeling him a "loser" after Hess spoke of his conflicting emotions about representing the US.

Vance assumed the role of US Vice President on 20/1/2025, serving under then-President Trump. The 41-year-old politician was present at the Winter Olympics in Italy last week, attending the opening ceremony where he was reportedly booed.

Gu is scheduled to compete in her final event at the 2026 Olympics, the halfpipe, with qualifiers on 19/2 and the finals on 21/2.

By Hoang An (Source: Mediaite, Daily Mail)