Why Chinese-American skier Eileen Gu embraces being ‘a mixed kid’ and how she intends to empower her generation’s women

The 17-year-old two-time world champion breaks down Beijing heritage and women-only upbringing

‘Nobody can deny I’m American, nobody can deny I’m Chinese’ says Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics medal hope

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Eileen Gu of China wins first place in the women's freeski slopestyle final at the 2021 FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championship at Buttermilk Ski Resort in Aspen, Colorado in March. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:00am, 28 Mar 2021Updated: 5:23pm, 18 Apr 2022

Despite opting to represent China over the US in competitions two years ago, Chinese-American freeski sensation Eileen Gu will never forget her mixed-race heritage.

The US-born 17-year-old, who collected another pair of gold medals at the FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships half-pipe and slopestyle events in Aspen this month, recalled an identity-defining moment during an annual family trip to Beijing as a child.

“When I was five, I was in the back seat of a taxi and the driver was poking fun at me for being a hunxue’er, a mixed kid, and I didn’t understand the connotation,” the Aspen Snowmass athlete said, letting slip her thick Beijing accent.

“Looking back it was super lighthearted and most of it was probably a compliment, but he was saying I looked different or whatever. I got so mad I cried and told my mum to xia che [get out the car], that we needed to leave because this guy was being so disrespectful. My mum and the taxi driver were both just laughing.

China's Eileen Gu in the women's halfpipe skiing qualifiers at the US Grand Prix and World Cup at the Buttermilk Ski Area in Aspen, Colorado in March. Photo: AP

“I thought: ‘this isn’t funny, I’m Chinese’. I’ve always had that. I’m so proud of both [my cultures]. There’s no part of me that would ever hide my identity. It makes me unique and allows me to be more open to learning about new cultures. I’m really grateful I grew up in that environment.”

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