Alysa Liu makes her feelings clear on Eileen Gu picking China over USA at Olympics
Two-time Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater Alysa Liu has revealed her opinion on Eileen Gu’s decision to represent China despite being born in the US.
Both Liu and Gu enjoyed success at the recent Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games in Italy, with the former winning gold in the women’s singles figure skating and in the team event, while the latter won gold in the women’s freeski halfpipe and two silvers in the freeski slopestyle and big air.
The duo both have Chinese heritage, with 20-year-old Liu born in San Francisco to Chinese parents.
Twenty-two-year-old Gu was also born in California to a Chinese mother. And despite the pair boasting similar backgrounds as well as competing in winter sports, a big difference between them is who they represent when competing.
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Liu chose to turn out for the US at the 2026 Games while Gu competed for China.
Gu’s decision not to represent her country of birth did not go down well with some, with Vice President Vance even offering his verdict on the skier’s choice during the Games.
Vance said: "I certainly think that somebody who grew up in the United States of America, who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that make this country a great place, I would hope that they want to compete with the United States of America."
Gu responded by saying: "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.
"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."
Now, Liu has waded in with her thoughts on the topic and was quick to defend her fellow Olympian when speaking to the New York Times.
"I’ve known Eileen since I was 13 or something," she said. "We’re from the Bay Area. She’s super nice, and her mom is from China. I think people are hypocritical for shaming her for representing China. So, in my head, it’s a bit hypocritical, because her mom is an immigrant. Y’all would have told her to go back to China. Now that they’re back in China, you’re mad.
"And it’s sport, it doesn’t matter what country we represent. Sport is sport, and she has a love for competition, she has love for the game. I think that’s all that matters. There’s no shame in going to where opportunity is."
Luke Davies