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https://scmp.com/sport/china/article/3173679/eileen-gus-love-chinese-pies-catches-president-xi-jinpings-attention
Sport/ China

Eileen Gu’s love for Chinese pies catches President Xi Jinping’s attention as China hails Olympic heroes

  • Around 150 athletes and officials are awarded for contributions at Winter Olympics, including speed-skater Wu Dajing and director Zhang Yimou
  • President Xi singles out freestyle skier and double gold medallist Gu during ceremony for her fondness for Chinese snacks
Olympic gold medalist Eileen Gu poses with her three medals before a commendation ceremony at the Great Hall of the People. Photo: AP

Eileen Gu was one of the stand-out stars of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Now she has captured the attention of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The 18-year-old, US-born freestyle skier and part-time model gained millions of fans around the world for her achievements at the Games, where she won two gold medals and one silver for China.

But it was her obsession with Chinese food – dumplings and pies in particular – that bridged a cultural divide and transformed her into one of the biggest celebrities in China.

At an awards ceremony on Friday to celebrate the heroes of the Games, Xi mentioned Gu while touting how the Winter Olympics had highlighted Chinese culture, including a variety of local snacks popular among visiting athletes.

Attendees applaud as Olympic gold medallist Eileen Gu arrives at the Great Hall of the People for a ceremony to celebrate the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Photo: AP
Attendees applaud as Olympic gold medallist Eileen Gu arrives at the Great Hall of the People for a ceremony to celebrate the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Photo: AP

“Gu Ailing loves to eat Chinese pies,” Xi said, referring to the athlete by her Chinese name in a remark that was not included in official transcripts of the speech, but won applause in the Great Hall of the People.

Throughout the Games, Gu was seen eating snacks during qualifying and practice sessions. Her first act after arriving in Beijing was to head straight for the nearest dumpling restaurant.

While waiting for her score in the freeski slopestyle qualifying rounds, Gu was seen on camera enjoying a traditional Chinese snack called Jiucai Hezi – a pan-fried dumpling filled with chives and vermicelli noodles.

Eileen Gu gives a thumbs-up while eating a Jiucai Hezi – a Chinese pocket pie. Photo: AFP
Eileen Gu gives a thumbs-up while eating a Jiucai Hezi – a Chinese pocket pie. Photo: AFP

A hashtag “Gu Ailing said she was eating Jiucai Hezi” attracted more than 200 million comments within hours, as pictures and videos of Gu enjoying the snack went viral.

“Super good” was how she described the pie when asked by reporters, with a hand gesture giving it high marks.

Some 150 Olympic athletes and officials were awarded for their contributions at the event from Xi and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, including short-track speed-skater Wu Dajing and film director Zhang Yimou, the creative director of the Winter Games Opening Ceremony.

A video posted on China’s Twitter-like platform Weibo showed the double gold medallist being greeted with support as she entered the hall.

Eileen Gu poses for a selfie outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo: EPA-EFE
Eileen Gu poses for a selfie outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo: EPA-EFE

“Thanks for all the encouragement – the Beijing Winter Olympics is my most precious and beautiful experience, and I hope that every friend can find happiness in love,” Gu posted on Weibo following the ceremony.

“Thank you all! I have pie again.”

Gu’s success at the Games made her a rare athlete able to bridge the divide between the United States, where she was born, and China, the country she represents in competition.

Her sporting prowess, fluent Mandarin, and brand endorsements for a wide range of Chinese companies – from tech giant JD.com to dairy producer China Mengniu Dairy – have turned her into a household name in China.

Olympic gold medallist Eileen Gu poses with her three medals. Photo: AP/Ng Han Guan
Olympic gold medallist Eileen Gu poses with her three medals. Photo: AP/Ng Han Guan

Across the Winter Games Gu skilfully avoided questions on her American citizenship.

Gu was born and raised in San Francisco to a Beijing native mother and American father. In 2019, she announced she had decided to represent China at the 2022 Winter Olympics. China however, does not allow its citizens to carry dual citizenship and the International Olympic Committee requires athletes to hold passports for the countries they compete for.

“I’m American when I’m in the US and Chinese when I’m in China,” she told the media during the Beijing Olympics.

“Both continue to be supportive of me because they understand my mission is to use sport as a force for unity. I definitely feel as though I’m just as American as I am Chinese.”