Eileen Gu Faces Schedule Problems at Olympics

Eileen Gu, who competes for China in skiing, is finding her Olympic schedule difficult. Some of her training and competition times do not line up, which she says makes it hard to prepare. She has spoken out about this issue.
By Newsroom | Winter Sports, China |

Eileen Gu, a prominent freestyle skier competing for China, is facing a complex situation at the Winter Olympics involving scheduling conflicts and past controversies. Her bid for multiple medals is reportedly being challenged by overlapping training and competition times, leading her to voice concerns about the fairness of the schedule. This comes after a previous incident where a winter sports governing body made an insensitive remark following her slopestyle event.

Timeline of Events and Key Players

Eileen Gu, a 22-year-old athlete born in the United States who competes for China, is participating in three disciplines: slopestyle, halfpipe, and big air. Her Olympic journey at the Milano-Cortina Winter Games has been marked by both athletic achievements and external commentary.

Eileen Gu releases furious Winter Olympics statement and hits out after being 'penalised' - 1

  • Slopestyle Silver: Gu secured a silver medal in the slopestyle event.

  • Big Air Qualification: She qualified for the big air final, held on Monday.

  • Halfpipe Training Conflict: The big air final overlaps with the initial training sessions for the halfpipe, an event where Gu is the defending champion.

  • FIS Remark: An official TikTok account of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) posted a comment on a video related to the slopestyle event, referring to Gu's failure to win gold as "karma." This comment was later deleted, and the FIS apologized after receiving complaints from Gu's Chinese fans.

  • "Punishing Excellence": Gu has publicly stated that the scheduling conflict feels like organizers are "punishing excellence" by not allowing her adequate practice time for the halfpipe due to her participation in the big air final.

Gu's Stance on the Schedule

Gu has expressed disappointment and frustration regarding her Olympic schedule, particularly the conflict between the big air final and the halfpipe training sessions.

Read More: Great Britain Wins First Snow Gold at Olympics

  • "Punishing Excellence": She believes the schedule is unfairly impacting her ability to prepare for the halfpipe.

  • Desire for Equal Practice: Gu has stated she is not seeking special treatment but wants the same amount of practice time as her competitors in the halfpipe.

  • Overlapping Events: The big air final is scheduled at the same time as the first of three three-hour halfpipe training sessions. The halfpipe qualifying round is scheduled for Thursday.

  • "Really Unfair": Gu described the schedule as "really unfair" and stated that it "doesn’t make sense." She feels a packed schedule is impacting her preparation for her "main event," the halfpipe.

Past Controversies and Public Perception

Beyond the immediate scheduling issues, Gu's career has also been shaped by decisions regarding her national representation and past public comments.

Read More: China Tries to Make Its Own Advanced Computer Chips

Eileen Gu releases furious Winter Olympics statement and hits out after being 'penalised' - 2

Representing China

Eileen Gu was born and raised in the United States but chose to compete for China in the Winter Olympics.

  • Inspiration for a New Generation: Gu has stated her decision was driven by a desire to inspire a new generation of athletes in China.

  • Dual Citizenship Questions: She has faced questions about her citizenship status, with reports indicating China does not allow dual citizenship and that she renounced her U.S. citizenship.

  • "The US already has the representation": Gu has commented that the U.S. already has significant representation in sports.

The FIS "Karma" Comment

An incident involving the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has also drawn attention.

Eileen Gu releases furious Winter Olympics statement and hits out after being 'penalised' - 3

  • Social Media Remark: An official FIS TikTok account made a comment on a video about Switzerland's Mathilde Gremaud winning the slopestyle title, stating that Gu's silver medal was "karma." This remark was reportedly in response to a user mentioning that Gu's coach had left her for another athlete.

  • Apology and Deletion: The FIS deleted the comment and issued an apology after considerable backlash from Gu's Chinese fans.

  • Misra Noto Mentioned: The exchange in the comments section reportedly involved a coach named Misra Noto.

Athlete Reactions and External Commentary

Other athletes and commentators have weighed in on the broader context of national representation and political remarks surrounding the Olympics.

Read More: Great Britain Wins First Snow Gold Medal

  • Hunter Hess Incident: Gu expressed sympathy for U.S. freeskier Hunter Hess, who faced criticism from former President Donald Trump. Gu noted that she could relate to what Hess was experiencing.

  • Divided Opinions: Snowboarder Chloe Kim commented on the divisive nature of national representation during the Games.

  • "Punishing Excellence" Interpretation: Gu's statement about the schedule being "punishing excellence" has been reported by multiple news outlets, highlighting her perspective on the challenges she faces.

Expert Analysis and Insights

  • On Schedule Conflicts: The overlapping schedules for major events are not uncommon in multi-sport competitions, but the impact on athletes competing in multiple disciplines can be significant. Organizers aim to balance competition needs with athlete training, though compromises are sometimes necessary.

  • On National Representation: Athletes switching allegiances for international competitions is a recognized phenomenon. Decisions are often influenced by factors such as sporting infrastructure, opportunities for development, and personal connections. The scrutiny faced by athletes in such situations can be intense.

  • On Governing Body Conduct: Public statements made by official sporting bodies carry considerable weight. Inappropriate or insensitive comments can damage credibility and lead to accusations of bias, as seen with the FIS incident. Apologies and the removal of problematic content are standard responses in such cases.

Conclusion and Implications

Eileen Gu's participation in the Winter Olympics is currently navigating a complex landscape of athletic demands and public discourse. The immediate concern is the fairness and impact of her competition and training schedule, which she feels hinders her preparation for the halfpipe. This situation raises questions about event scheduling in multi-discipline competitions and the accommodations made for athletes aiming for multiple medals.

Read More: China Paid Eileen Gu Millions, Then Hid Budget Details

Eileen Gu releases furious Winter Olympics statement and hits out after being 'penalised' - 4

Furthermore, the past controversy involving the FIS "karma" comment underscores the sensitivity surrounding athlete performance and the importance of responsible communication from governing bodies. Gu's decision to represent China, a topic that has drawn considerable attention, also situates her within a broader conversation about national identity and athletic choices.

The implications extend to how future Olympic schedules are constructed to better support athletes competing in multiple events and how sports federations manage their public communications to avoid controversy. The ongoing events will continue to be closely watched, with a focus on Gu's performance and the reactions to these developing situations.

Sources Used:

Read More: Great Britain Wins Historic Snowboard Gold

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is Eileen Gu unhappy with her Olympic schedule?
Her schedule has events and training times that happen at the same time. This makes it hard for her to practice for all her events.
Q: What events is Eileen Gu competing in?
She is competing in slopestyle, halfpipe, and big air skiing.
Q: What did the winter sports group say about Eileen Gu?
An official social media account for the winter sports group made a comment that was seen as unkind. They later said sorry and took the comment down.
Q: What does Eileen Gu mean by 'punishing excellence'?
She feels that by giving her a difficult schedule, the people in charge are making it harder for her to do her best, even though she is a top athlete.