02-03-2026, 09:43 AM
The Winter Olympics with 4 Stanford students
02-03-2026, 11:16 AM
Cue Eileen Gu rage in 3...2...1...
If there's one thing people have learned in Berkeley, it's that you can't put "Cal football" and "Rose Bowl" in the same sentence. The words just don't fit. You'd be better off linking "covered wagons" with "Mars travel." (Bruce Jenkins, Cal '70, SF Chronicle, Nov. 11, 2017)
Cue Eileen Gu rage in 3...2...1...
If there's one thing people have learned in Berkeley, it's that you can't put "Cal football" and "Rose Bowl" in the same sentence. The words just don't fit. You'd be better off linking "covered wagons" with "Mars travel." (Bruce Jenkins, Cal '70, SF Chronicle, Nov. 11, 2017)
02-04-2026, 03:15 PM
I’m hoping that our Olympics eagle eyes will try to let us know when our heroes are competing.
(02-04-2026, 03:15 PM)Spike Wrote: I’m hoping that our Olympics eagle eyes will try to let us know when our heroes are competing.
I have a vested interest in a pair of participants in another event so I pulled the following since I was already trying to figure out my possible watch schedule. You can check the Milano Games Schedule & Results site for updated info - I'm not sure if this site will allow looking up schedules for individual athletes, as the T&F World Championships site did. Note all event times are CET (Central European Time).
Times listed are based on my knowledge of our 4 athletes' likely events - again, you can check the Oly site to double-check. If I wasn't sure about an athlete's participation (e.g. with Brandon Kim's 4th event), I added what I think are likely possibilities under "Other Possible Events".
Also, can someone explain how the (round-to round) progressions in Mens Speed Skaing Team Pursuit competitions work? There are actually also Group C and D Finals in the schedule for 2/15 but both are non-medal finals.
![[Image: O7mWgvu.png]](https://i.imgur.com/O7mWgvu.png)
(02-04-2026, 03:15 PM)Spike Wrote: I’m hoping that our Olympics eagle eyes will try to let us know when our heroes are competing.
I have a vested interest in a pair of participants in another event so I pulled the following since I was already trying to figure out my possible watch schedule. You can check the Milano Games Schedule & Results site for updated info - I'm not sure if this site will allow looking up schedules for individual athletes, as the T&F World Championships site did. Note all event times are CET (Central European Time).
Times listed are based on my knowledge of our 4 athletes' likely events - again, you can check the Oly site to double-check. If I wasn't sure about an athlete's participation (e.g. with Brandon Kim's 4th event), I added what I think are likely possibilities under "Other Possible Events".
Also, can someone explain how the (round-to round) progressions in Mens Speed Skaing Team Pursuit competitions work? There are actually also Group C and D Finals in the schedule for 2/15 but both are non-medal finals.
02-05-2026, 11:19 AM
Jiminy cricket. According to Forbes, Eileen Gu made $23M last year. She was the 4th highest paid female athlete on the planet. And certainly the highest paid athlete on the Stanford campus.
"We have an unwritten rule around here not to do anything stupid."
-Casey Jacobsen, Feb 3, 2000
Jiminy cricket. According to Forbes, Eileen Gu made $23M last year. She was the 4th highest paid female athlete on the planet. And certainly the highest paid athlete on the Stanford campus.
"We have an unwritten rule around here not to do anything stupid."
-Casey Jacobsen, Feb 3, 2000
02-05-2026, 12:11 PM
In this era of NIL, good for Eileen. She is getting a great education at Stanford and she is getting paid very well by the highest bidder in China, along with a number of other brands. Yes, I would love having her on Team USA (and actually was hoping she might switch), but with kids jumping from one school to the next for $ and fame, I can't fault her the economic decision. We are talking about her more because of it, which is what the Tic Toc, Intstagram generation is geared for.
In this era of NIL, good for Eileen. She is getting a great education at Stanford and she is getting paid very well by the highest bidder in China, along with a number of other brands. Yes, I would love having her on Team USA (and actually was hoping she might switch), but with kids jumping from one school to the next for $ and fame, I can't fault her the economic decision. We are talking about her more because of it, which is what the Tic Toc, Intstagram generation is geared for.
02-05-2026, 02:58 PM
Interesting comment about NIL, because according to this profile in the Athletic, only about $100,000 of her earnings were tied to skiing.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7003969...23million/
The rest of it is endorsements and payments for her “name, image, and likeness” for advertisers.
BC
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7003969...23million/
The rest of it is endorsements and payments for her “name, image, and likeness” for advertisers.
BC
Interesting comment about NIL, because according to this profile in the Athletic, only about $100,000 of her earnings were tied to skiing.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7003969...23million/
The rest of it is endorsements and payments for her “name, image, and likeness” for advertisers.
BC
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7003969...23million/
The rest of it is endorsements and payments for her “name, image, and likeness” for advertisers.
BC
02-05-2026, 06:20 PM
(02-04-2026, 08:48 PM)BostonCard Wrote:(02-03-2026, 11:16 AM)Papa John Wrote: Cue Eileen Gu rage in 3...2...1...
Looks like you might have been wrong on this one, though I may be tempting someone to display said rage by noting it.
BC
I was both sarcastic and wrong. I might have had an upset stomach that day...
If there's one thing people have learned in Berkeley, it's that you can't put "Cal football" and "Rose Bowl" in the same sentence. The words just don't fit. You'd be better off linking "covered wagons" with "Mars travel." (Bruce Jenkins, Cal '70, SF Chronicle, Nov. 11, 2017)
(02-04-2026, 08:48 PM)BostonCard Wrote:(02-03-2026, 11:16 AM)Papa John Wrote: Cue Eileen Gu rage in 3...2...1...
Looks like you might have been wrong on this one, though I may be tempting someone to display said rage by noting it.
BC
I was both sarcastic and wrong. I might have had an upset stomach that day...
If there's one thing people have learned in Berkeley, it's that you can't put "Cal football" and "Rose Bowl" in the same sentence. The words just don't fit. You'd be better off linking "covered wagons" with "Mars travel." (Bruce Jenkins, Cal '70, SF Chronicle, Nov. 11, 2017)
02-05-2026, 06:46 PM
(02-05-2026, 06:20 PM)Papa John Wrote:(02-04-2026, 08:48 PM)BostonCard Wrote:(02-03-2026, 11:16 AM)Papa John Wrote: Cue Eileen Gu rage in 3...2...1...
Looks like you might have been wrong on this one, though I may be tempting someone to display said rage by noting it.
BC
I was both sarcastic and wrong. I might have had an upset stomach that day...
Thanks Papa John. The young ski fanatics in my family think Gu is amazing. So do I.
(02-05-2026, 06:20 PM)Papa John Wrote:(02-04-2026, 08:48 PM)BostonCard Wrote:(02-03-2026, 11:16 AM)Papa John Wrote: Cue Eileen Gu rage in 3...2...1...
Looks like you might have been wrong on this one, though I may be tempting someone to display said rage by noting it.
BC
I was both sarcastic and wrong. I might have had an upset stomach that day...
Thanks Papa John. The young ski fanatics in my family think Gu is amazing. So do I.
02-06-2026, 03:18 PM
I'd never heard Eileen Gu speak before. Here's a surprisingly good interview with her hosted by two women who went to Stanford:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sPAyKrk0-s
It's a little ironic that I say "surprisingly good" because Gu herself says how much it frustrates her when people say things like, "OMG you're actually smart!" or, "OMG you're actually nice!"
I forwarded the link to my teenager. The voices in the video feel fresh -- three poised, intelligent, well-spoken young women who are talking about serious topics but not trying too hard to be taken seriously.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sPAyKrk0-s
It's a little ironic that I say "surprisingly good" because Gu herself says how much it frustrates her when people say things like, "OMG you're actually smart!" or, "OMG you're actually nice!"
I forwarded the link to my teenager. The voices in the video feel fresh -- three poised, intelligent, well-spoken young women who are talking about serious topics but not trying too hard to be taken seriously.
I'd never heard Eileen Gu speak before. Here's a surprisingly good interview with her hosted by two women who went to Stanford:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sPAyKrk0-s
It's a little ironic that I say "surprisingly good" because Gu herself says how much it frustrates her when people say things like, "OMG you're actually smart!" or, "OMG you're actually nice!"
I forwarded the link to my teenager. The voices in the video feel fresh -- three poised, intelligent, well-spoken young women who are talking about serious topics but not trying too hard to be taken seriously.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sPAyKrk0-s
It's a little ironic that I say "surprisingly good" because Gu herself says how much it frustrates her when people say things like, "OMG you're actually smart!" or, "OMG you're actually nice!"
I forwarded the link to my teenager. The voices in the video feel fresh -- three poised, intelligent, well-spoken young women who are talking about serious topics but not trying too hard to be taken seriously.
02-07-2026, 03:56 AM
I’d never watched the sport before, but Eileen messed up on her first run (I don’t even know if that’s the right term). Then she bounced back with a solid second attempt and will advance to the finals. Her joy seemed genuine and made me want to root for her.
02-10-2026, 10:29 AM
I'm a Gu hater, so I was very happy to see her biff that rail and yell "G*ddamnit" loud enough for the cameras to pick up.
Hopefully her bosses in the CCP dock her pay.
Hopefully her bosses in the CCP dock her pay.
02-10-2026, 10:48 AM
Meanwhile W soccer defender Sammy Smith advanced from the preliminary round of the 1.5 km cross country ski race. Top 30 to the quarterfinals and Smith finished about ~ 25th, out of almost 90 skiers. 1.5 km (~ a mile) in under 4 minutes. Very impressive/unprecedented to go from the College Cup, to the Olympics!
I think the quarterfinals have already been held and I haven't watched it yet. Hoping Smith advanced on to the semifinals.
I think the quarterfinals have already been held and I haven't watched it yet. Hoping Smith advanced on to the semifinals.
Meanwhile W soccer defender Sammy Smith advanced from the preliminary round of the 1.5 km cross country ski race. Top 30 to the quarterfinals and Smith finished about ~ 25th, out of almost 90 skiers. 1.5 km (~ a mile) in under 4 minutes. Very impressive/unprecedented to go from the College Cup, to the Olympics!
I think the quarterfinals have already been held and I haven't watched it yet. Hoping Smith advanced on to the semifinals.
I think the quarterfinals have already been held and I haven't watched it yet. Hoping Smith advanced on to the semifinals.
02-10-2026, 12:03 PM
Nice Good Morning America interview with Eileen linked below. I love that she gives props to Stanford and likely the Bing Oxford program. I didn't like her decision to ski for China in the prior Olympics, but as mentioned prior, I'm fine with it now. She's a very positive ambassador - good luck to her.
https://www.today.com/video/eileen-gu-on...7443397540
https://www.today.com/video/eileen-gu-on...7443397540
Nice Good Morning America interview with Eileen linked below. I love that she gives props to Stanford and likely the Bing Oxford program. I didn't like her decision to ski for China in the prior Olympics, but as mentioned prior, I'm fine with it now. She's a very positive ambassador - good luck to her.
https://www.today.com/video/eileen-gu-on...7443397540
https://www.today.com/video/eileen-gu-on...7443397540
02-10-2026, 02:51 PM
(02-03-2026, 09:43 AM)BobK Wrote: https://gostanford.com/news/2026/02/2/20...ics-primer
Those are amazing stories about amazing young people. Can’t believe how much they fit into their lives.
(02-03-2026, 09:43 AM)BobK Wrote: https://gostanford.com/news/2026/02/2/20...ics-primer
Those are amazing stories about amazing young people. Can’t believe how much they fit into their lives.
02-11-2026, 12:41 AM
Sammy Smith finished 4th her in quarterfinal 1.5 km race, missing the top 3 and the semis by just 3+ seconds. 3:59.07 for 1.5 km.
02-11-2026, 06:58 PM
(02-10-2026, 12:03 PM)Treebound Wrote: Nice Good Morning America interview with Eileen linked below. I love that she gives props to Stanford and likely the Bing Oxford program. I didn't like her decision to ski for China in the prior Olympics, but as mentioned prior, I'm fine with it now. She's a very positive ambassador - good luck to her.+1
https://www.today.com/video/eileen-gu-on...7443397540
(02-10-2026, 12:03 PM)Treebound Wrote: Nice Good Morning America interview with Eileen linked below. I love that she gives props to Stanford and likely the Bing Oxford program. I didn't like her decision to ski for China in the prior Olympics, but as mentioned prior, I'm fine with it now. She's a very positive ambassador - good luck to her.+1
https://www.today.com/video/eileen-gu-on...7443397540
Story from the WSJ today about the Chinese government directly paying Eileen Gu. She's smart, pretty, well spoken, and on the payroll of the Chinese Communist Party to the tune of millions of dollars.
Not a big surprise of course, but important to recognize her millions are not just from "NIL" deals.
Should be a gift link-
https://www.wsj.com/sports/olympics/eile..._permalink
I have seen a lot of negative social media about Gu where Stanford catches some heat as well. Many see her and by extension Stanford as representative of a cosmopolitan elite rot, envisioning Stanford as a place for strivers who don't care who they step on to secure the bag.
Not a big surprise of course, but important to recognize her millions are not just from "NIL" deals.
Quote:From the start of her freestyle skiing career, Eileen Gu has been a runaway financial success. When the U.S.-born star opted in 2019 to compete for her mother’s home country of China, sponsors flocked to her camera-ready charisma—and for her access to one of the world’s largest markets.
But Gu, who grew up in the Bay Area and studies at Stanford, might be even more valuable to the Chinese government than she is to backers such as Porsche and Red Bull. And in the leadup to this Olympics, it became clear just how much China was willing to pay to support her.
In 2025, the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau was set to pay Gu and another athlete a combined $6.6 million.
That figure emerged in a public budget that was released in early 2025. It accidentally included the names of Gu and figure skater Zhu Yi or Beverly Zhu, another U.S.-born Olympic athlete who competes for China. The document didn’t break down their individual payments, though it’s likely that Gu, a three-time Olympic medalist, received a larger share of the funding.
In total, Beijing’s sports bureau was set to pay Gu and Zhu nearly 100 million yuan, or $14 million over the past three years. The most recent allocation was for “striving for excellent results in qualifying for the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics,” according to the budget.
Gu’s name, along with Zhu’s, was deleted from the budgets soon after they emerged, but not before they spurred surprise and criticism from the Chinese public at a time when budgets were tight for essential services. Those comments were also scrubbed from social media.
Should be a gift link-
https://www.wsj.com/sports/olympics/eile..._permalink
I have seen a lot of negative social media about Gu where Stanford catches some heat as well. Many see her and by extension Stanford as representative of a cosmopolitan elite rot, envisioning Stanford as a place for strivers who don't care who they step on to secure the bag.
Story from the WSJ today about the Chinese government directly paying Eileen Gu. She's smart, pretty, well spoken, and on the payroll of the Chinese Communist Party to the tune of millions of dollars.
Not a big surprise of course, but important to recognize her millions are not just from "NIL" deals.
Should be a gift link-
https://www.wsj.com/sports/olympics/eile..._permalink
I have seen a lot of negative social media about Gu where Stanford catches some heat as well. Many see her and by extension Stanford as representative of a cosmopolitan elite rot, envisioning Stanford as a place for strivers who don't care who they step on to secure the bag.
Not a big surprise of course, but important to recognize her millions are not just from "NIL" deals.
Quote:From the start of her freestyle skiing career, Eileen Gu has been a runaway financial success. When the U.S.-born star opted in 2019 to compete for her mother’s home country of China, sponsors flocked to her camera-ready charisma—and for her access to one of the world’s largest markets.
But Gu, who grew up in the Bay Area and studies at Stanford, might be even more valuable to the Chinese government than she is to backers such as Porsche and Red Bull. And in the leadup to this Olympics, it became clear just how much China was willing to pay to support her.
In 2025, the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau was set to pay Gu and another athlete a combined $6.6 million.
That figure emerged in a public budget that was released in early 2025. It accidentally included the names of Gu and figure skater Zhu Yi or Beverly Zhu, another U.S.-born Olympic athlete who competes for China. The document didn’t break down their individual payments, though it’s likely that Gu, a three-time Olympic medalist, received a larger share of the funding.
In total, Beijing’s sports bureau was set to pay Gu and Zhu nearly 100 million yuan, or $14 million over the past three years. The most recent allocation was for “striving for excellent results in qualifying for the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics,” according to the budget.
Gu’s name, along with Zhu’s, was deleted from the budgets soon after they emerged, but not before they spurred surprise and criticism from the Chinese public at a time when budgets were tight for essential services. Those comments were also scrubbed from social media.
Should be a gift link-
https://www.wsj.com/sports/olympics/eile..._permalink
I have seen a lot of negative social media about Gu where Stanford catches some heat as well. Many see her and by extension Stanford as representative of a cosmopolitan elite rot, envisioning Stanford as a place for strivers who don't care who they step on to secure the bag.
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