LOADINGERROR LOADINGEx-NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom piled on to the often-conservative criticism of freestyle skiing great Eileen Gu on Wednesday.Gu, whose mother is Chinese, was born in San Francisco but is representing China for the second straight Winter Olympics. Advertisement
She has earned China two silver medals in the Milan Cortina Games with the halfpipe up next. She won two golds and a silver in 2022. She has vaulted to international fame as an athlete and sometimes a model, reportedly earning tens of millions of dollars a year ― a chunk of which she has received from the Chinese government.But as in the last Winter Olympics, Gu has gotten heat for her choice, though it should be noted that several U.S.-born athletes compete for other countries. Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who was born in Oslo but has a Brazilian mother, has been widely celebrated during the Games for representing a country other than his birthplace. Gu’s defenders have suggested that racism and Sinophobia are factors in why she is being treated differently. “I’m just going to say it. She’s a traitor,” Freedom told Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Wednesday. “She was born in America. She was raised in America, lives in America, and chooses to compete against her own country for, literally, the worst human rights abuser on the planet, China. She built her fame in a free country, and then chooses to represent an authoritarian regime.”Advertisement
Kanter Freedom: Eileen Gu Is a traitor. She was born in America and chooses to compete against her own country. pic.twitter.com/gAh4YbrFpt— Acyn (@Acyn) February 18, 2026The former center, who played for the Utah Jazz, New York Knicks and other teams in the NBA from 2011 to 2022, added “Freedom” to his name when he became a U.S. citizen in 2021. The former Turkish citizen was outspoken against the Turkish government and had his passport canceled by the country in 2017. He often speaks out against human rights abuses in China.Before the Games, Gu defended her choice to represent China.“The U.S. already has the representation,” Gu said, per Newsweek. “I like building my own pond.”She also dismissed speculation that she chose China because the financial windfall was potentially greater. Advertisement
“I’m glad that there’s enough money in the sport now for people to think that’s a consideration,” Gu said.Gu celebrated winning silver in the big air final on Monday.via Associated PressEven Vice President JD Vance weighed in about Gu’s decision, starting off diplomatically but eventually throwing some shade her way.Advertisement
Asked by Fox News’ Martha MacCallum on Tuesday if the status of the San Francisco-born athlete should be “changed,” the veep replied: “Well, look, I have no idea what her status should be. I think that’s ultimately up to the Olympics Committee. I won’t pretend to wade into that.”“I certainly think that somebody who grew up in the United States of America, who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that make this country a great place, I would hope that they want to compete with the United States of America,” he added.“So, I’m going to root for American athletes, and I think part of that is people who identify themselves as Americans. That’s who I’m rooting for this Olympics,” Vance said.Advertisement
Gu competes in the big air final on Monday.Xinhua News Agency via Getty ImagesRelatedRacismChinaWinter OlympicsEileen GuFox News Host Asks Vance If U.S.-Born Olympian Should Lose ‘Status’ Skiing For ChinaOlympian's Sex Confession Spreads To Another Sport In Wild 'Late Show' Send-UpItaly Taunts U.S. In Oh-So-Familiar Style After Winning Speedskating Team Event