02-19-2026, 03:44 PM
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.
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.