Eileen Gu, the Chinese-American freestyle skier, sharply responded to a reporter’s question about her silver medal performances at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games, calling the premise of disappointment “ridiculous.” The exchange occurred during a press conference Monday, where Gu was asked if securing silver rather than gold was a letdown.
“I’m the most decorated female free skier in history! I think that’s an answer in and of itself,” Gu stated firmly. This is a crucial point: Gu’s record already makes her an outlier. The question itself implies that anything short of gold is a failure, which she rejected outright.
The 22-year-old has faced criticism from some conservative circles for competing under the Chinese flag, with some labeling her a “traitor.” She has previously defended this decision, stating that the United States already has ample representation in the Olympics and that she prefers forging her own path. This choice, while controversial, reflects a calculated decision about where she sees her competitive future.
At the 2022 Winter Olympics, Gu won two gold and one silver medal. In Italy, she has secured two more silver medals as of Monday, with a third event – women’s freeski halfpipe – scheduled for Thursday.
The reporter’s question framed her current results as “two silvers gained or two golds lost.” Gu laughed off the suggestion. “Winning a medal at the Olympics is a life-changing experience for every athlete. Doing it five times is exponentially harder because every medal is equally hard for me, but everybody else’s expectations rise, right?” she explained. “And so, the ‘two medals lost’ situation, to be quite frank with you, I think it’s kind of a ridiculous perspective to take.”
Gu’s response quickly went viral, underscoring her confidence and willingness to challenge conventional narratives about success. She concluded by emphasizing that she is “showcasing my best skiing” and achieving feats “that, quite literally, have never been done before.”
Ultimately, Gu’s attitude reflects a growing trend among elite athletes: defining success on their own terms, regardless of external expectations. Her response highlights the pressure to perform at the highest level while also dismissing the arbitrary limitations imposed by medal counts.
