The CardBoard
The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - Printable Version

+- The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board)
+-- Forum: C-House! (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-4.html)
+--- Forum: The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-5.html)
+--- Thread: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students (/thread-26056.html)

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5

RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - BostonCard - 02-17-2026

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7049798/2026/02/17/eileen-gu-winter-olympics-freestyle-skiing-china-controversy/

Quote:She says she’s been attacked on her college campus, Stanford University, where she was admitted in 2022 despite a petition — started by parents of prospective students and Chinese Americans — to keep her out. “Physically assaulted on the street,” Gu said. “The police were called.” (Stanford police referred The Athletic to its department of public safety; as of publication, a request had not been returned.) “I’ve had death threats,” Gu added. “I’ve had my dorm robbed.”

I think we can all agree that however one might feel about Gu, this is horrible, and not a good look for Stanford.

BC

RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - fullmetal - 02-18-2026

That's absolutely terrible.  Is it known whether the perpetrators were Stanford-affiliated or outsiders?

RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - dabigv13 - 02-18-2026

The only source for the claim is Gu. Stanford DPS has declined to comment to several news orgs. Probably a lie or exaggeration IMHO.

RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - BostonCard - 02-18-2026

(02-18-2026, 02:37 PM)dabigv13 Wrote:  The only source for the claim is Gu. Stanford DPS has declined to comment to several news orgs. Probably a lie or exaggeration IMHO.

Stanford police has declined to comment but did send the Chronicle a link to the Police Report, which does corroborate the fact that “police were called”.  Interesting that the Chron didn’t mention what was in the Police Report.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/olympic-skier-eileen-gu-says-assaulted-stanford-21358619.php

Sure, false accusations and exaggerations occur, but other than antipathy for Gu, is there any reason to believe that this particular allegation is for whatever reason less likely to be fully truthful?

BC

RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - dabigv13 - 02-18-2026

The only public information we have for the claim is Gu's statement, so obviously I can't be certain of anything.

But I suspect if there was a serious incident, this would have been in the news earlier. There doesn't seem to have been any arrest or investigation. The wording of her statement is strange to me as well. She says she was "physically assaulted in the street", but no other details apart from the police being called. Reads to me like someone got in her face in public, she called the cops who came and didn't see any offense.

Gu is an amoral opportunist who already lies to the press (no, she's not skiing for China to "grow the sport", obviously). Why should I believe her on this? I'm skeptical until we see some corroboration. Hopefully more reporting will be done.

RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - old spanish trail - 02-18-2026

(02-18-2026, 03:25 PM)dabigv13 Wrote:  The only public information we have for the claim is Gu's statement, so obviously I can't be certain of anything.

But I suspect if there was a serious incident, this would have been in the news earlier. There doesn't seem to have been any arrest or investigation. The wording of her statement is strange to me as well. She says she was "physically assaulted in the street", but no other details apart from the police being called. Reads to me like someone got in her face in public, she called the cops who came and didn't see any offense.

Gu is an amoral opportunist who already lies to the press (no, she's not skiing for China to "grow the sport", obviously). Why should I believe her on this? I'm skeptical until we see some corroboration. Hopefully more reporting will be done.
 
Sorry, dude, you are becoming way too hateful here.

RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - dabigv13 - 02-18-2026

I take umbrage at that. Care to specify what in my post was "hateful"? Speculative and negative, certainly. Very possibly wrong. But not hateful.

And just to be clear, nobody, not even a paid agent of China, should be physically harmed for who they are or what they believe. Just don't ask Gu if that principle applies to Uyghurs in China, because you won't get an answer.

RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - pefloresjr - 02-18-2026

(02-18-2026, 03:25 PM)dabigv13 Wrote:  The only public information we have for the claim is Gu's statement, so obviously I can't be certain of anything.

But I suspect if there was a serious incident, this would have been in the news earlier. There doesn't seem to have been any arrest or investigation. The wording of her statement is strange to me as well. She says she was "physically assaulted in the street", but no other details apart from the police being called. Reads to me like someone got in her face in public, she called the cops who came and didn't see any offense.

Gu is an amoral opportunist who already lies to the press (no, she's not skiing for China to "grow the sport", obviously). Why should I believe her on this? I'm skeptical until we see some corroboration. Hopefully more reporting will be done.

California Penal Code section 240 defines assault as "an unlawful attempt, coupled with present ability, to commit a violent injury on the person of another."  Actual contact or injury is not required to commit the crime of assault.  California Penal Code section 242 defines battery as "any willful or unlawful use of force or violence upon the person of another."  Contact with the victim is required but again no injury is required to commit the crime of battery.  

Most non-criminal attorneys will use the term assault to describe somebody going after them on the street.  If someone willfully (purposely) grabs or pushes another, that is a battery, but is often described as an assault.  If a person attempts to grab, push, or punch a victim, but misses, that is an assault.  Situations where the police are called but there is no arrest and there are no charges filed are typically minor in nature.  However, that does not provide any indication that the allegations are not true.  An investigation and police report could have easily been filed and forwarded to the DA's office but, with no injuries and no reason to believe it will recur, charges would not typically be filed.  

You moved the bar on truthfulness when you stated that the incident must not have been serious because we never heard of it and it didn't appear to have been investigated.  But we don't know whether it was investigated and the circumstances would determine whether the case is "serious."  If I am assaulted (someone attempting to grab, push, or hit me but failing) while I am walking down the street and the person clearly has mental issues, I wouldn't consider it very serious.  These things happen in the big city.  However, if I am similarly assaulted by a stranger on the street who recognizes me and is assaulting me because of who I am, I would consider it very serious.  Public figures are often the targets of violent and even fatal assaults.  

Ultimately, her description of a public assault seems likely based on the anger and vitriol we have seen directed toward her based on her choice to ski for China.  Can't we all simply agree that any assault on a person based on their Olympic choices is wrong?  Do we need to call them amoral and attack their credibility?  

For what it is worth, I was unhappy when she chose to ski for China and would much prefer she ski for the USA.  But, it is her choice and everyone if free to root for her success or failure in the competition.  

Cheers,
Pete F.

RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - 82lsju - 02-18-2026

(02-18-2026, 03:00 PM)BostonCard Wrote:  
(02-18-2026, 02:37 PM)dabigv13 Wrote:  The only source for the claim is Gu. Stanford DPS has declined to comment to several news orgs. Probably a lie or exaggeration IMHO.

Stanford police has declined to comment but did send the Chronicle a link to the Police Report, which does corroborate the fact that “police were called”.  Interesting that the Chron didn’t mention what was in the Police Report.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/olympic-skier-eileen-gu-says-assaulted-stanford-21358619.php

Sure, false accusations and exaggerations occur, but other than antipathy for Gu, is there any reason to believe that this particular allegation is for whatever reason less likely to be fully truthful?

BC

I don't think the Chronicle has seen the report, from the article

Quote:A spokesperson for the Stanford department of public safety responded to the Chronicle’s inquiry Tuesday with a link to request a police report, but he did not otherwise comment. University spokesperson Angie Davis did not confirm or comment on the alleged assault involving Gu.

so I think they get this link 

https://police.stanford.edu/pdf/Report_Request_Form.pdf

the instructions

https://police.stanford.edu/police-report.html

you need some specific info to get the report (e.g., the report #), you have to send them a copy of your ID, and you have to mail them the request (no email) and they will get back to you in up to 10 days, unless they determine sending you the report

Quote:would endanger the safety of a witness or other person involved in the investigation or if its disclosure will endanger the successful completion of the investigation or a related investigation. In addition, if records are disclosed pursuant to section 6254(f), some information contained within these records may be protected by state and federal laws and will not be released.


RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - BostonCard - 02-18-2026

Thanks LSJU…

I misread “a report” for “the report”.  Sounds like the were given generic instructions and not a link for this specific case, which doesn’t even totally clarify whether there is a report to be found.

I would presume that a news paper knows how to find and request a police report, but as you pointed out, it might take time.

BC

RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - ca245 - 02-19-2026

I think Eileen Gu should have chosen to represent the USA, but I am surprised to see the animus directed at her for her choice to represent China.

Her situation is not that different from that of Armand Duplantis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armand_Duplantis), the world record holder in the pole vault. He has an American father and a Swedish mother and was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. He went to high school in Louisiana and then LSU. But when he chose to represent Sweden in international competition, there wasn't any controversy about it.

Given that Eileen is Asian and female, the vitriol directed at her because of her choice of country to represent raises the specter of racism and misogyny.

RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - dabigv13 - 02-19-2026

It's actually a very different situation though.

Sweden didn't pay Duplantis millions of dollars to represent them. Sweden isn't an authoritarian state committing human rights violations trying to launder their international reputation through sport.

We've discussed this in depth before so if you care to read more, feel free to browse the link to the 2022 thread posted earlier by cardcrimson.

Finally I think it's frankly ridiculous to presume that the only reason someone would dislike Gu is due to misogyny or racism.

RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - 82lsju - 02-19-2026

(02-19-2026, 04:11 PM)dabigv13 Wrote:  It's actually a very different situation though.

Sweden didn't pay Duplantis millions of dollars to represent them. Sweden isn't an authoritarian state committing human rights violations trying to launder their international reputation through sport.

We've discussed this in depth before so if you care to read more, feel free to browse the link to the 2022 thread posted earlier by cardcrimson.

Finally I think it's frankly ridiculous to presume that the only reason someone would dislike Gu is due to misogyny or racism.

so what do you think about Ronaldo playing football for a Saudi Arabian team?

RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - dabigv13 - 02-19-2026

(02-19-2026, 04:47 PM)82lsju Wrote:  
(02-19-2026, 04:11 PM)dabigv13 Wrote:  It's actually a very different situation though.

Sweden didn't pay Duplantis millions of dollars to represent them. Sweden isn't an authoritarian state committing human rights violations trying to launder their international reputation through sport.

We've discussed this in depth before so if you care to read more, feel free to browse the link to the 2022 thread posted earlier by cardcrimson.

Finally I think it's frankly ridiculous to presume that the only reason someone would dislike Gu is due to misogyny or racism.

so what do you think about Ronaldo playing football for a Saudi Arabian team?

One more reason Messi is the GOAT and Ronaldo sucks.

RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - SkiBum80 - 02-19-2026

(02-19-2026, 03:44 PM)ca245 Wrote:  I think Eileen Gu should have chosen to represent the USA, but I am surprised to see the animus directed at her for her choice to represent China.

Her situation is not that different from that of Armand Duplantis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armand_Duplantis), the world record holder in the pole vault. He has an American father and a Swedish mother and was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. He went to high school in Louisiana and then LSU. But when he chose to represent Sweden in international competition, there wasn't any controversy about it.

Given that Eileen is Asian and female, the vitriol directed at her because of her choice of country to represent raises the specter of racism and misogyny.
Part of the difference in response might be due to the point that we are less likely to get into a war, or worst case nuclear war, with Sweden, over say, their threat to militarily attack and take over the democratically elected govt on the island of Zealand.
Today Zoe Atkin qualified top highest score in the freeski half pipe.
Finals Saturday

RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - BostonCard - 02-19-2026

Some food for thought, when you compete for a country in an international competition, who are you competing for, the country, its people or its government?

BC

RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - 82lsju - 02-19-2026

(02-19-2026, 07:08 PM)BostonCard Wrote:  Some food for thought, when you compete for a country in an international competition, who are you competing for, the country, its people or its government?

BC

I find the construct of the Olympics (and many international competitions) as trying to be "apolitical" somewhat humorous as they are a lot about nationalism, competition as country, the winner has their national anthem played, they tally medals by country, for any particular athlete they might think they are competing for their country or people or government but most likely are thinking more about competing for themselves and what winning means to them as an individual.  Some may be highly motivated by governmental financial support leading up to the competitions and additional rewards (or penalties) based on their results.

Going back to Gu, I think she (or her mom or both) made a business decision years ago that she/they thought would we best to them.

RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - SkiBum80 - 02-19-2026

(02-19-2026, 07:08 PM)BostonCard Wrote:  Some food for thought, when you compete for a country in an international competition, who are you competing for, the country, its people or its government?

BC
A good question.
I don't offer an answer to it, but rather submit a companion thought and observation, that the motivation to compete is an instinctive impulse for many, or most people. You can see it among young siblings, even if not prompted at all by parents, or maybe even discouraged by parents, they still often have some instinct to compete.

RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - BostonCard - 02-19-2026

I agree with both of you that the instinct to compete is strong, and let’s be honest, most people are competing for themselves.  And, for example, when a player puts on a San Francisco 49ers Jersey, let’s be honest that the player is not really playing for the city of San Francisco (or Santa Clara) or its people; they are simply being paid to play football, and the franchise happens to be located in the Bay Area and named “San Francisco 49ers”.  To be honest, the Olympics probably isn’t much different at all; we just pretend that it is with all the pageantry, the flags, the anthems, etc.

But for the athletes who have a true choice of who to compete for (like Duplantis or Gu, who could have competed for Sweden/China or the US) when they pick which country to represent, what are they representing?  I know Gu, when asked, has repeatedly pointed to the Chinese people and her Chinese heritage.  Yeah, it is likely a business decision (and from a business perspective, probably the most well renumerated one), but I do think she feels like she is representing the people of China. 

BC

RE: The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students - dabigv13 - 02-19-2026

(02-19-2026, 06:07 PM)SkiBum80 Wrote:  
(02-19-2026, 03:44 PM)ca245 Wrote:  I think Eileen Gu should have chosen to represent the USA, but I am surprised to see the animus directed at her for her choice to represent China.

Her situation is not that different from that of Armand Duplantis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armand_Duplantis), the world record holder in the pole vault. He has an American father and a Swedish mother and was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. He went to high school in Louisiana and then LSU. But when he chose to represent Sweden in international competition, there wasn't any controversy about it.

Given that Eileen is Asian and female, the vitriol directed at her because of her choice of country to represent raises the specter of racism and misogyny.
Part of the difference in response might be due to the point that we are less likely to get into a war, or worst case nuclear war, with Sweden, over say, their threat to militarily attack and take over the democratically elected govt on the island of Zealand.
Today Zoe Atkin qualified top highest score in the freeski half pipe.
Finals Saturday

During Zoe Atkin's first run, the commentator noted that while Stanford usually has several athletes at the Summer Olympics, they had two in this one event. Then gave out a hearty "Go Cardinal". Decent chance both could medal.

The Peacock feeds have had some interesting moments during the Olympics today. Sweet Caroline playing in the venue while Gu waiting on her phone for her 2nd qualifying run. Alysa Liu dropping a couple f-bombs after her really incredible skate for gold. 

Really a very enjoyable Winter Olympics all around IMHO.