JD? Yeah for sure.
She wanted to participate under the red star. Let her enjoy her medal there for the rest of her life.
“Traitor” is a big word to use for a skiier who chose to compete under a different country’s flag. I think – and this is probably the first and last time you’ll hear me say this – Vance’s take is pretty reasonable. She’s free to participate in a Chinese uniform, but as an American, I’m not gonna root for her. I don’t see it differently from any of the US-born players that are coming to Houston next month to compete in the WBC for Italy or the UK.
Let’s hit closer to home.
Is Emanuel Sharp a traitor for playing for the Israeli National Team in U16 basketball?
He’s a dual American & Israeli citizen. Grew up in both countries. Chose to represent Israel in that particular competition.
I’ve heard he’s open to playing for Israel in the 2028 Olympics.
Does that make him a traitor (punishable by death), or do we simply not root for him in 2028?
I see no difference between the two situations.
I think there is a huge difference between playing for an ally of the US vs playing for an enemy of the US.
Traitor is probably too strong of a word but I don’t like that she did it. I’m not losing any sleep over it though.
Really
Traitor is pretty harsh. I am not losing any sleep over it. Her parents are chinese and if she wants to claim china as her country to represent for her atheletic career (they are reportedly paying her 14 million to do so) its her right, do I cheer for her, no, as I cheer for team USA.
Also, this is her second olympic games representing China and no one called her a traitor 4 years ago. I remember NBC running a piece on her about her representation of China and all the rules and restrictions imposed on her by China regarding what she was allowed to say or share on social media. It was pretty disappointing back then she avoided answering questions about China’s humanitarian rights record. But she made the choice and she has to live with her consequences as she counts her 14 million she was reportedly payed. it is not just the olympics, she represents China full time in her sports world cup circuit.
Qatar, has been offering athletes money to represent them in international competition by issuing them a Qatar passport and giving them financial incentives to do so.
Why do some athletes compete for countries they weren’t born in? - McMaster News
It is not just something Americans do by representing another country. It happens to athletes from other countries too.
While watching speed skating they talked about a skater who was from the Netherlands but making their Olympic team was so hard it was easier to make another countries team.
I think your just stirring the pot and trying to make it political. If anything you should be more outraged/bothered at the efforts to punish US athletes who spoke up about how divided the country is. They are excising their 1A rights and government is wanting to come down hard on them. Thats a bigger issue.
Politics is in the eye of the holder.
Traitor? Yes.
Just not in the criminal sense
What’s the word for a poor choice of words?? 
Traitor is often one of those words. And for what? Arts, sports and entertainment. 
wut
I think any negativity thrown her way is important. Ruin her commercial prospects in the USA. Let her work in China.
The point of the Olympics is not jingoism. There a dozens if not hundreds of other athletes of mixed heritage and/or dual citizenship that have changed the countries they represent over the course of their careers. Doesn’t make those people disloyal or traitors. Singling out Gu isn’t about actual principle or responding to some antagonism from her actions or words. It’s just jealousy. Gu made the choice at age 15 to represent China in honor of her mother and to grow the sport in a country she also shares some kinship. There’s nothing political about that and the only ones making it political are the jingoist man-children that are mad that they can’t control this one particular woman that hasn’t bowed down to pressure to let herself be used as their political pawn.
Exactly
now you’re just making stuff up
Eileen Gu has represented China in two Winter Olympic Games: Beijing 2022 and Milano Cortina 2026. Across these two Games, she has won a total of five medals (two gold, three silver) as a freestyle skier. She switched from representing the USA to China in 2019.
Where was the outrage 4 years ago. She has been representing China in spores since 2019.
I am sorry your allergic to facts.
Not sure if traitor is the right word, but I’ll say this.
When you grow up enjoying all the rights, freedoms, privileges, and benefits that go along with life in the USA…and then…
you turn around and represent a country which does NOT protect those very same rights, freedoms, democratic processes, etc…you INVITE criticism and ostracization for it.
Criticism of her on that basis is well deserved.
I hope that US companies take notice and don’t give her endorsement deals or modeling contracts. I’ll think less of any company that does.
And as I recall, there was outrage directed at her, and a few other US citizen athletes that competed for China as well.
Agree she is not above criticism but she is not a traitor.
Her brand is a global brand. If brands see value in sponsoring her they will.
Olympic skier Eileen Gu is considered a major global brand with estimated earnings of over $23 million in 2025 alone, largely driven by endorsements with international brands. She serves as a global brand ambassador for companies like TCL, Louis Vuitton, Porsche, Tiffany & Co., and Red Bull.
We are not discussing IF she is skating for China or how decorated she is. We are discussing if She is a traitor or not. Try to keep up
About 4 years ago (around the 2022 Olympics):
- During the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, some Americans criticized her decision, especially amid political tensions between the U.S. and China.
- A portion of U.S. media and social media users questioned her loyalty.
- Others accused her of benefiting from American training systems while choosing to represent China.
However:
- Many people also defended her, pointing out that she is biracial (American father, Chinese mother) and grew up connected to both cultures.
- Supporters emphasized that athletes are allowed to represent whichever country they qualify for and feel connected to.
- Some praised her for using her platform to promote cross-cultural understanding.
So yes — she did face criticism from some Americans, but it wasn’t universal. Public opinion was divided rather than overwhelmingly negative.