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Eileen Gu

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In this Chinese name, the family name is Gu.

Eileen Gu
Personal information
Native name谷爱凌
Full nameEileen Feng Gu[1][2]
Born (2003-09-03) 3 September 2003 (age 21)[3]
San Francisco, California, US[4]
Sport
CountryChina
SportFreestyle skiing
Events
  • Halfpipe
  • Slopestyle
  • Big air
ClubBeijing Nanshan Ski Resort
Medal record
Women's freestyle skiing
Representing  China
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 1 0 0
World Championships 2 0 1
Winter X Games 2 0 1
Winter Youth Olympics 2 1 0
Total 7 1 2
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2022 Beijing Big air
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2021 Aspen Halfpipe
Gold medal – first place 2021 Aspen Slopestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Aspen Big air
Winter X Games
Gold medal – first place 2021 Aspen Superpipe
Gold medal – first place 2021 Aspen Slopestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Aspen Big air
Winter Youth Olympics
Gold medal – first place 2020 Lausanne Big air
Gold medal – first place 2020 Lausanne Halfpipe
Silver medal – second place 2020 Lausanne Slopestyle
Eileen Gu
Simplified Chinese谷爱凌
Traditional Chinese谷愛凌
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinGǔ Àilíng

Eileen Feng Gu (born 3 September 2003), also known by her Chinese name Gu Ailing (Chinese: 谷爱凌; pinyin: Gǔ Àilíng), is an American-born Chinese freestyle skier in halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air events who has competed for China since 2019.[5][6] At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, she became the youngest Olympic champion in freestyle skiing, at age 18, capturing the gold medal in big air. She also has a career as a fashion model.

Early life and education

Gu was born in San Francisco, California, United States, on 3 September 2003[3] to an American father and a Chinese mother. Her mother, Gu Yan (Chinese: 谷燕; pinyin: Gǔ Yàn), moved to the U.S. from China as a student in her twenties, enrolling at Auburn University and Rockefeller University. While attending the latter, her mother skied for the first time at Hunter Mountain in New York state; her passion for the sport deepened after relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area, while earning an MBA at Stanford University. While there, Gu's mother put her young daughter into ski lessons at Lake Tahoe, reportedly so that her daughter could keep up with her. Her mother, as Gu put it, "accidentally created [in me] a pro skier."[7]

Gu wrote in her personal Sina Weibo page on 1 March 2021 that she had been recognized as a candidate for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, as a January 2021 nominee from San Francisco University High School;[8][1] she was not ultimately awarded the scholarship,[9] and graduated early from secondary school.[10] The Washington Post reports that, after her sports and educational achievements (including an SAT score of 1580), she secured admission into Stanford University,[11] an alma mater of her mother, and will start studying after the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.[12][7]

Career

Sports

Gu participated at the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships 2021, winning two gold medals in Freeski Halfpipe and Freeski Slopestyle. Gu became the first freeskier to win two golds at the FIS Freeski World Championship. She also won a bronze medal in Freeski Big Air.[13][14] She was also injured at the event with a broken hand.[15]

In 2021, Gu became the first woman to land a forward double cork 1440.[16]

2022 Beijing Olympics

In the 2022 Winter Olympics, Gu became the youngest ever gold medalist in freestyle skiing, winning the big air event.[17] She landed her first ever attempt at a double cork 1620, the second woman to have ever made the move, after Tess Ledeux earlier in the same event.[18]

World Cup results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).[19]

Representing Season Date Location Discipline Place
United States United States 2018–2019 12 January 2019 France Font Romeu, France Slopestyle 2nd
27 January 2019 Italy Seiser Alm, Italy Slopestyle 1st
China China 2019–2020 7 September 2019 New Zealand Cardrona, New Zealand Halfpipe 2nd
14 February 2020 Canada Calgary, Canada Halfpipe 1st
15 February 2020 Canada Calgary, Canada Slopestyle 1st
2020–2021 21 November 2020 Austria Stubai, Austria Slopestyle 3rd
2021–2022 4 December 2021 United States Steamboat, United States Big Air 1st
10 December 2021 United States Copper Mountain, United States Halfpipe 1st
30 December 2021 Canada Calgary, Canada Halfpipe 1st
1 January 2022 Canada Calgary, Canada Halfpipe 1st
8 January 2022 United States Mammoth Mountain, United States Halfpipe 1st
9 January 2022 United States Mammoth Mountain, United States Slopestyle 2nd

Results current through 1 February 2022.

Modeling

Gu also has a career as a fashion model, and is represented by the agency IMG Models.[10][12] As of January 2022, she has participated in a number of campaigns, including for Fendi and Gucci,[12] IWC Schaffhausen.[20] and Tiffany and Louis Vuitton.[10][20][12] Gu has had multiple magazine covers, including for Elle and Vogue China.[12]

Nationality

Born in the United States to an American father and first-generation immigrant mother of Chinese origin, Eileen Gu has competed for China since June 2019 by requesting a change of nation with the International Ski Federation.[3][21][22][23][3] Her goal was to compete for China in the 2022 Winter Olympics.[23][24][25] In announcing the change, she said that through skiing she hopes "to help inspire millions of young people" in China and "to unite people, promote common understanding, create communication, and forge friendships between nations."[23][24] In interviews, she has said, "Nobody can deny I'm American, nobody can deny I'm Chinese"[26] and "When I'm in the U.S., I'm American, but when I'm in China, I'm Chinese."[27][28]

Personal life

Gu spoke out about anti-Asian racism in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, after the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings and after an elderly Asian man in San Francisco died from a racist attack. She has described her own experience with anti-Asian racism, having endured a man screaming obscenities about Asians infecting America with COVID-19 at her and her grandmother in a shop.[29] Gu also supports the Black Lives Matter movement.[30][31] She has also been described as "a strong advocate of gender equality and representation of women in sports".[12]

Gu was raised by her Chinese mother and grandmother and can speak fluent Mandarin Chinese as well as English.[31][32] As a hobby, she plays the piano.[10]

In March 2021, Gu revealed that she had been receiving hostility over her decision to compete for China, including death threats and "endless hate" over social media since as young as 15 years old.[33]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program" (PDF). U.S. Department of Education. January 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Eileen Gu - Portfolio". IMG Models. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Eileen Gu". Red Bull. Archived from the original on 8 September 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  4. ^ Roenigk, Alyssa (1 February 2022). "Olympics 2022: Freeski star Eileen Gu's delicate balancing act between China and the U.S." ESPN. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  5. ^ "谷爱凌为什么自称"青蛙公主"？原因找到了". 新浪. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  6. ^ "18岁的谷爱凌，到底是一个怎样的存在？她的人生如何开挂？". 腾讯新闻. 腾讯. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  7. ^ a b Bruton, Michelle. "Eileen Gu: Emerging Freeskiing Star, Fashion Model, Future Olympian … And Only 17 Years Old". Forbes. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  8. ^ Gu, Eileen (1 March 2021). "Presidential Scholars Program Candidate". Sina Weibo. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 25 July 2021 suggested (help)
  9. ^ "U.S. Department of Education Announces 161 Students from Across the Country As 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars | U.S. Department of Education". www.ed.gov. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d Carpenter, Les (31 January 2022). "Eileen Gu: Born and raised in America, skiing for China". WashingtonPost.com. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022. She also is a professional model, represented by one of the most prestigious agencies. Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. have built campaigns around her. Last year, she graduated early from acclaimed San Francisco University High. In a few months, she will enroll at Stanford. She speaks both English and Mandarin and plays the piano. Her SAT score is reported to be 1580.
  11. ^ "All About Eileen Gu, the Chinese-American Olympic Freestyle Skier – NBC New York". NBC New York. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Paul, Trinetra (25 January 2022). "Everything You Should Know About Olympic Skier and Model Eileen Gu". LifestyleAsia.org. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022. Shining not just in sports, Gu excels in academics as well. She has received an offer from the globally renowned Stanford University, her mother's alma mater. However, the plans of starting school have to wait for the upcoming 2022 Olympic Games.Having faced negative comments for her American upbringing from the Asian community and championing a male-dominated sport, Gu is a strong advocate of gender equality and representation of women in sports. / Besides dedicating her heart and soul to freeskiing, Gu is also quite the fashionista and has several brand endorsements and modelling assignments to her credit. Already featured in Forbes '30 under 30' in 2020, Gu became the youngest athlete to make it to the list at 17. Representing several international brands,like Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co, Gucci and Fendi, ... She has contracts with the model agency IMG Models Worldwide and has already graced the cover of Vogue and Chinese Elle.
  13. ^ Aspen 2021 FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships. "Aspen 2021 FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships – Overall Results — FRI 12 MAR 2021 Start Time: 13:00 — Women's Freeski Halfpipe" (PDF). data.fis-ski.com. FIS. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Mark Clavin (13 March 2021). "Gu and Porteous clinch halfpipe gold medals in Aspen". fis-ski.com. FIS. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  15. ^ "Chinese-American skier Eileen Gu 'deeply honoured' to lead China's winter push". South China Morning Post. 23 March 2021. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  16. ^ "China's Eileen Gu stomps world's first women's freeski double cork 1440". Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  17. ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2022/02/08/eileen-gu-chinese-skier/
  18. ^ https://www.click2houston.com/sports/2022/02/08/chinas-eileen-gu-stomps-1620-to-win-first-olympic-gold-in-freeski-big-air/
  19. ^ "GU Ailing Eileen - Athlete Information - Results". FIS. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  20. ^ a b FGR Stagg (28 January 2022). "Eileen Gu is Now an Ambassador for IWC Schaffhausen Watches". FashionGoneRogue.com. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022. At 18-years-old, Eileen Gu has become the new ambassador for IWC Schaffhausen. The freestyle skier has appeared in campaigns for fashion brands like Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. in the past year.
  21. ^ Shapiro, Bee (16 March 2021). "The Freestyle Ski Star Eileen Gu Has a Warning About TikTok Diets". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 19 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  22. ^ "GU Ailing Eileen - Athlete Information - Career Information". FIS. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  23. ^ a b c Bachman, Rachel (10 January 2022). "China's Star Skier Was Born in the USA—and Still Lives There". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  24. ^ a b @eileen_gu_ (6 June 2019). "I have decided to compete for China in the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics..." – via Instagram.
  25. ^ "Olympic Charter" (PDF). Olympics. 17 July 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  26. ^ "How star skier Eileen Gu intends to empower young Chinese women". South China Morning Post. 28 March 2021. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  27. ^ "U.S. teen skier looks to inspire Chinese young women through sports". ESPN.com. 27 January 2020. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  28. ^ "Five things you didn't know about freestyle skiing prodigy Gu Ailing Eileen". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  29. ^ https://www.economist.com/1843/2022/02/03/cold-warrior-why-eileen-gu-ditched-team-usa-to-ski-for-china
  30. ^ McNicol. Andrew (18 March 2021). "Eileen Gu Calls Out 'Domestic Terrorism' of Asian-Americans Amid Spike in Coronavirus-Related Violence—'Killing More Asian People Isn't Going to Kill the Virus'". South China Morning Post (SCMP.com). Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  31. ^ a b Deng, Boer; Silic, Anamaria (7 February 2022). "Eileen Gu: US-China tension is trickiest slope for Olympic free skier". BBC News. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  32. ^ https://www.economist.com/1843/2022/02/03/cold-warrior-why-eileen-gu-ditched-team-usa-to-ski-for-china
  33. ^ https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3126505/beijing-2022-olympics-eileen-gu-reflects-swapping-us-china-receiving
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