Editorial | Pressure must not melt China’s ‘Snow Princess’
- As Eileen Gu goes for her third medal at the Winter Olympics, the skier born to a Chinese mother and American father continues to be her 18-year-old self
The Winter Olympics are festooned with stars, but few have shone as brightly at the Beijing Games as freestyle skier Eileen Gu. Her gold medal win for China in the freeski big air event was followed on Tuesday with a silver in the women’s slopestyle.
On Thursday she launches a bid for a record-breaking third medal in the half-pipe competition. The sporting prowess of this extraordinary 18-year-old, who was born and raised in the United States but chose to represent China, is impressive enough.
But her medal-winning feats are not her only accomplishments.
Gu is a fashion model and social media influencer. She has excelled academically.
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How Beijingers view Eileen Gu: Olympic medallist embraced by fans and over 23 brands in China
The teenager is also an advocate of gender equality and an inspiration for the young. But with a Chinese mother and American father, it is Gu’s ability to cross the cultural divide that stands out.
She has become a sensation in China, with millions of supporters gushing over her achievements.