Gu representing China to inspire girls

2022 Beijing Olympics – Freestyle Snowboarding – Ladies’s Freeski – Halfpipe – Remaining – Run 3 – Genting Snow Park, Zhangjiakou, China – February 18, 2022. Gu Ailing Eileen of China in motion. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Could 4 (Reuters) – Eileen Gu didn’t anticipate the extent of controversy that resulted from her selecting to symbolize China reasonably than the US on the Beijing Olympics, she stated on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old Gu loved a stellar Video games this 12 months, choosing up gold medals in Huge Air and halfpipe in addition to a silver in slopestyle. learn extra

San Francisco-born Gu additionally confronted controversy over her determination in 2019 to change groups and symbolize China after years of competing for the U.S. learn extra

“There have been so many wonderful feminine position fashions within the U.S. that I grew up watching,” Gu advised an espnW Summit panel in New York Metropolis. “There wasn’t somebody like that in China.”

Gu, who speaks fluent Mandarin and spent her summers in China however was raised within the U.S., stated she was impressed to symbolize her mom’s dwelling nation.

“I can say 100 occasions I am doing this as a result of I wish to encourage extra younger ladies in sport. I am doing this as a result of I wish to introduce children to free snowboarding and I am doing this to symbolize my and my mom’s Chinese language heritage,” Gu stated.

“If folks do not imagine that and in the event that they wish to be like ‘She’s doing it for xyz’, I can not do something about that.”

Chinese language social media customers instructed Gu loved a privileged life. learn extra

“I am making an attempt my finest to make the world a greater place in my very own approach,” stated Gu.

“If you happen to do not like this fashion – superior, such as you guys can go do one thing else.”

Sure for Stanford College this 12 months, Gu stated she was having fun with the perks of her post-Olympic movie star, attending New York’s Met Gala on Monday, however that she has obtained hate mail and been the topic of on-line bullying.

“It is easy to only be like, ‘Yeah, simply do not care’,” stated Gu. “However God, like, I am 18.”

Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York, modifying by Ed Osmond

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