Eileen Gu arrived a few minutes late to her press conference after winning her gold medal at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, but it was not an oversight. The reality is that the 22-year-old skier who represents China experienced a heartbreaking moment just moments after obtaining her medal.
Born in the United States but competing for China, Gu learned of the passing of her grandmother, Guozhen Feng, shortly after capturing her third Olympic gold medal.
“She was a steamship,” Gu said through tears. “This woman commanded life, took it by the reins and turned it into whatever she wanted it to be,” the athlete said while explaining the strong influence her grandmother had on her sporting career.
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A message on her phone: The news that stopped the celebration
The image of Eileen Gu arriving late to the official press conference caught the attention of international media. With eyes visibly affected by tears, the athlete revealed the reason for her delay: right after finishing her competition, while checking her phone in the mixed zone, she was informed of the death of her grandmother, Guozhen Feng.
Gu, who even carries her grandmother’s name as her middle name in her honor, described Feng as her greatest source of inspiration and recounted the moment of their final conversation, a talk that proved inspiring for her.
“The last time I saw her before coming to the Olympics she was very ill, so I knew this was a possibility. I didn’t promise her that I would win, but I did promise her that I would be brave.”
The skier explained that she had already said goodbye to her before traveling to Italy, knowing that her health was fragile, and that every jump in the halfpipe was a way of honoring that shared promise of bravery.
The target of criticism: JD Vance and loyalty in question
Despite her absolute dominance on the snow, Gu’s success has not been free from an intense political burden. Her decision to compete for China, despite being born and athletically developed in California, has once again reignited criticism in the United States. One of her most vocal detractors has been Vice President JD Vance, who during these Games has questioned the athlete’s loyalty.
Vance has described Gu’s choice as an act of commercial convenience, while the athlete has defended herself. “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.”
Her grandmother’s life faded at the very moment her star shone at its brightest in Milan-Cortina.