Eileen Gu happy Peng Shuai is healthy, but dodges questions on nationality

US-born
Eileen Gu won gold in women’s freestyle big air for China at the Winter
Olympics in Beijing on Tuesday before an eventful press conference when she had
to confront questions related to Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, who was
among the dignitaries present at the venue, as well as her decision to play for
China instead of representing Team USA. 

Also Read: Winter Olympics: US-born Eileen Gu wins gold for China in freestyle big air

Born in California, praised by
CCP as a “Beijing athlete”

Born
and raised in San Francisco, California, Gu, which means “Ailing” in Chinese,
had announced her decision to represent China in July 2019 in international
events, but she never publically addressed the question of whether she had
given up her US citizenship. It must be noted that China does not accept dual
nationality.

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Nicknamed
“snow princess”, Gu, who was born to an American father and Chinese mother, has
become China’s most popular athlete at the Beijing Winter Olympics because of
her American background and gold medal-winning performance at the Games. The US
imposed a diplomatic boycott on Beijing 2022. Hence, the political development made her the toast of the nation.

She
overcame the challenges of France’s Tess Ledeux and Switzerland’s Mathilde
Gremaud to win the yellow metal. After her win, she was heaped praise by the
Chinese Communist Party’s Beijing committee as well as Beijing’s municipal
government. In a joint statement, they described Gu as a “Beijing athlete”
who had “won honour for the country.”

Also Read: Beijing Olympics medal tally: Round-up of events and wins on February 7

Peng
attended Gu’s event     

Gu’s
gold medal-winning performance was also witnessed by Peng Shuai, who has been
under the spotlight since she had made the allegation of sexual assault against former
vice-premier of China Zhang Gaoli. However, she recently cancelled the
allegation she made against Gaoli.

After
her historic performance in Beijing on Tuesday, Gu acknowledged Peng’s presence
in the stands and hinted at familiarity with her case, but the two didn’t
appear to interact. “I’m really grateful that she’s happy and healthy and
out there doing her things again,” she said, according to Reuters.

Also Read: Winter Olympics: Slovenia wins gold in first ski jumping mixed team event

Thomas
Bach, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), had met Peng
earlier this week and said she was fine and looking forward to attending the
Winter Olympics. 

“Best moment of my life”

Gu,
however, dodged questions about her citizenship over half a dozen times. Her US
citizenship has been subject to debate for months. But Gu said she retains
affinity for both countries and cultures.

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She
told the Olympics website her gold medal-winning performance was “the best
moment” of her life. “The happiest moment, day, whatever—of my life.
I just cannot believe what just happened.”