At the 2026 Winter Olympics, freeskier Eileen Gu shared that the strength of her late grandmother helped guide her performance, revealing Sunday that she learned of her grandmother’s death shortly after winning gold in the women’s halfpipe.
Gu spoke to reporters during a February 22 press conference, explaining her delayed arrival. “The reason I was late is that I just found out that my grandma passed away,” Gu said. “She was a really big part of my life growing up and someone I looked up to immensely. She was a fighter.”
Later that day, Gu posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, sharing photos of her grandmother — including one of them wearing Gu’s Olympic medals from the 2022 Games. “Because I promised her I would be brave like her 🤍🕊️,” she wrote, ending the caption with “I love you grandma” in Chinese.
Gu described her grandmother as a defining force in her life and mindset. “I think what’s so interesting is that a lot of people just cruise through life, but she was a steamship. This woman commanded life and she grabbed it by the reins and she made it into what she wanted it to be. She inspired me so much.”
She acknowledged that her grandmother had been seriously ill. “She was very sick, so I knew that this was a possibility,” Gu said. “I didn’t promise her that I was going to win, but I did promise her that I was going to be brave like she has been brave. That’s why I keep referring to this theme of betting on myself and being brave and taking risks. It actually goes back to that promise that I made my grandma.”
Gu added, “So, I’m really happy that I was able to uphold that and hopefully do her proud. But it’s also a really difficult time for me now. So I really apologize for being late but that’s what was going on.”
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The 2026 Winter Olympics marked another milestone for Eileen Gu, who added three more medals to her already remarkable Olympic resume. After winning gold in the women’s halfpipe at the 2022 Winter Olympics, she now holds the distinction of being the most decorated freeskier in Olympic history.
J.D. Vance Questions Eileen Gu’s Allegiance As Olympic Star Responds Publicly
Eileen Gu’s decision to compete for China at the 2026 Winter Olympics has prompted criticism from United States Vice President J.D. Vance.
“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 they want to compete with the United States of America,” Vance told Fox News on February 17.
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.”
Gu responded in an interview with USA Today on February 19. “I’m flattered. Thanks, JD! That’s sweet,” she said, adding that she feels “like a bit of a punching bag for a certain strand of American politics at the moment.”
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For the unversed, Gu has represented China in international competition since 2019, and her results at the 2026 Winter Olympics further extend a career that includes a gold medal in women’s halfpipe at the 2022 Beijing Games and multiple podium finishes on the Olympic stage.
