BEIJING — In one Winter Olympics sweep, Eileen Gu has solidified her place as one of the biggest sports stars in the world, not to mention one of the most politically divisive.
The California native has won two medals competing for China and is going for a third in the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe on Friday, known to be her best event. But Gu's success comes in tandem with a highly controversial Winter Games and an increasingly strained relationship between China and the U.S., directly challenging her insistence that sports, and her skiing career, are apolitical.
Gu, 18, has posted win after win in international competition ahead of the Olympics. She's currently one of the most visible athletes in China and beyond, having appeared in fashion magazines and represented Chinese and American brands including Red Bull, Louis Vuitton and JD.com.
