Olympic skier Eileen Gu — probably the most embellished freeskier of all time — is giving credit score to her late grandma after including one other three medals to her title throughout the 2026 Winter Olympics.
After asserting that her grandma handed away throughout a Sunday, February 22, press convention, Gu took to social media to honor her grandmother.
“As a result of I promised her I’d be courageous like her 🤍🕊️,” Gu, 22, posted by way of Instagram on Sunday, together with a carousel of photographs of her grandma.
The caption completed with “I really like you grandma” in Chinese language.
Gu’s publish included photographs of the 2 of them collectively, together with one of many two carrying Gu’s Olympic medals from the 2022 Winter Video games in Beijing.
The skier mentioned on Sunday that she heard the information about her grandma proper after incomes the gold medal for the ladies’s halfpipe occasion.
“The explanation I used to be late is that I simply discovered that my grandma handed away,” Gu mentioned throughout a press convention on Sunday. “She was a very massive a part of my life rising up and somebody I appeared as much as immensely. She was a fighter.”
She continued, “I believe what’s so attention-grabbing is that lots of people simply cruise by way of life, however she was a steamship. This girl commanded life and he or she grabbed it by the reins and he or she made it into what she wished it to be. She impressed me a lot.”

Gu grew emotional as she continued honoring her grandma on the press convention.
“She was very sick, so I knew that this was a risk,” Gu mentioned. “I didn’t promise her that I used to be going to win however I did promise her that I used to be going to be courageous like she has been courageous. That’s why I preserve referring to this theme of betting on myself and being courageous and taking dangers. It truly goes again to that promise that I made my grandma.”
She continued, “So, I’m actually joyful that I used to be in a position to uphold that and hopefully do her proud. But it surely’s additionally a very tough time for me now. So I actually apologize for being late however that’s what was happening.”
Gu additionally gained the gold medal on the ladies’s halfpipe occasion throughout the 2022 Olympics.
“I’m probably the most embellished freeskier of all time, male or feminine,” Gu mentioned on Sunday. “I’ve probably the most gold medals ever, male or feminine. That’s a testomony to aggressive power, it’s psychological power. It’s with the ability to carry out below strain, it has nothing to (do with) in the event you’re a boy or a woman.”
Gu was born and raised in San Francisco, California, however selected to compete for China — the place her mom, Yan Gu, is from — prompting criticism from United States Vice President J.D. Vance.
“I actually suppose that any individual who grew up in the US of America, who benefited from our training system, from the freedoms and liberties that make this nation an ideal place, I’d hope they wish to compete with the US of America,” Vance instructed Fox Information on Tuesday, February 17. “So, I’m going to root for American athletes, and I believe a part of that’s individuals who determine themselves as People. That’s who I’m rooting for this Olympics.”
Gu was fast to reply to Vance’s feedback.
“I’m flattered. Thanks, JD! That’s candy,” Gu instructed USA Immediately on Thursday, February 19. She added that she feels “like a little bit of a punching bag for a sure strand of American politics in the mean time.”

