U.S.-born Olympics skier Eileen Gu wins gold for China [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Skier Eileen Gu won gold for Team China at the Winter Olympics in Beijing on Tuesday.
• Gu, who was born and raised in the U.S., received criticisms after she decided to represent China at the Beijing Games.
• The skier, whose mother is Chinese, plans to go to Stanford University.

Skiing sensation prodigy Eileen Gu won gold for China at the Winter Olympics on Tuesday.

The 18-year-old, who was born and raised in San Francisco California, pulled off an impressive run in the final of the women’s freeski big air.

“That was the best moment of my life,” Gu said. “I just cannot believe what just happened.”

The teen was able to land a double cork 1620 — a maneuver in which skiers spin 4 1/2 times while rotating twice off-axis while 20-some feet in the air. Gu said she had never done the trick before in practice or competition.

In 2019, Gu announced that she would compete for China, her mother’s hometown, in the 2022 Winter Olympics. The announcement received a lot of criticism.

Gu’s decision was met with joy and excitement in China She’s now being called the “Snow Princess” by the Chinese. She has adorned billboards and graced the cover of Chinese Vogue.

The skier plans to go to Stanford University.

Gu’s popularity has grown massively after her Tuesday win.

To celebrate Gu’s victory, the Chinese rushed online to Weibo, the Chinese social media platform, causing it to crash. Weibo. One hashtag about her win had received more than 900 million views as of Tuesday morning.

However, not all U.S.-born athletes competing for China have been equally celebrated by the Chinese public.

Figure skater Zhu Yi was slammed on social media after she crashed into a wall during a women’s short program team event on Sunday. The 19-year-old also finished last in Monday’s free skating event. She burst into tears after falling during her routine.

Zhu was slammed in social media posts for stumbling while others mocked her for not being fluent in Chinese. She gave up her American citizenship to compete for Team China.

Gu came to Zhu’s defense after online criticism mounted,

“Making mistakes and pressure are all part of sports,” Gu said at a news conference after her victory.

Source: NBC News