Eileen Gu has said she chose to compete for China mainly because of her Chinese heritage, her mother’s background, and a belief that she could have a much bigger impact on winter sports—especially for young girls—inside China than in the United States.

Her Stated Reasons

  • She has a Chinese mother and American father and grew up spending time in both cultures, so she describes herself as feeling a deep personal and cultural connection to China as well as the U.S.
  • When she announced her decision in 2019, she wrote that inspiring “millions of young people where my mom was born” and promoting the sport she loves in China was a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
  • She has repeatedly said she wants to use skiing to “unite people, promote common understanding, create communication, and forge friendships between nations,” framing the choice as bridge‑building rather than “picking sides.”

Impact and Opportunity in China

  • In the U.S., freestyle skiing is already well developed and has many stars, so she has suggested that even multiple gold medals for Team USA would not dramatically change the sport’s profile there.
  • In China, winter sports (especially skiing) are newer and still growing, so one standout athlete can literally “move the needle” and become a central figure in getting millions of kids, especially girls, into the sport.
  • Commentators often compare her potential role to what Yao Ming did for basketball in China—one superstar accelerating an entire market and youth movement.

Identity, Politics, and Backlash

  • Her decision drew strong criticism in the U.S. from people who argue that competing for China means, at minimum, tacit support for the Chinese government at a time of human‑rights concerns and tense U.S.–China relations.
  • Others, including many fans in China, view her choice as an expression of her heritage and a personal career decision, not an endorsement of any government.
  • Gu herself mostly sidesteps direct political questions and emphasizes girls’ participation in sports, cultural connection, and her desire to be a role model on both sides of the Pacific.

What She Has Not Fully Clarified

  • Details about her citizenship status and whether she formally renounced U.S. citizenship have remained somewhat opaque, fueling online speculation and forum debates.
  • Some observers also speculate about commercial and branding opportunities in the vast Chinese market, though Gu’s own public explanations focus on identity, inspiration, and impact rather than money.

TL;DR: Eileen Gu says she competes for China because of her Chinese roots and the unique chance to grow skiing and inspire millions of young people—especially girls—in a country where the sport is still emerging, even though that choice has placed her in the middle of U.S.–China political tensions.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.