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Winter Olympics spark online feud over loyalty of US-born athletes
Milan's Winter Games have ignited a digital battle over two American-born athletes-freestyle skier Eileen Gu and figure skater Alysa Liu-whose heritage and national allegiances are being scrutinized amid rising US-China tensions.
The athletes at the center of the storm
Both Gu and Liu, champions in their respective sports, share Chinese-American roots but have taken divergent paths. Gu, nicknamed the "Snow Princess" in China, competes for Beijing after switching from the US team in 2019. Liu, the daughter of a Tiananmen Square activist, represents the United States.
Gu's decision to ski for China-citing a desire to inspire youth in her mother's homeland-earned her adoration in China but drew criticism in the US, where some label her a traitor. Liu's family history, meanwhile, has made her a symbol of resistance for American audiences, while Chinese social media largely ignores or condemns her.
Political undercurrents fuel the backlash
The feud reflects broader geopolitical friction between Washington and Beijing. Critics on X (formerly Twitter) have framed Gu as a "PR asset" for China's government, accusing her of benefiting from US freedoms while representing a regime accused of human rights abuses. Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom called her a "traitor," while others demanded she condemn China's policies.
Gu's recent comments in defense of fellow Olympian Hunter Hess-who faced backlash for criticizing US immigration raids-reignited the controversy. Detractors argued she had never spoken out against China's government, despite its record in Xinjiang and Tibet.
"You don't get to enjoy the freedoms of US citizenship while acting as a global PR asset for the Chinese Communist Party."
Enes Kanter Freedom, former NBA player
Class and identity shape public perception
Experts say the divide extends beyond nationalism. Gu, raised in San Francisco's elite circles and educated at Stanford, is often portrayed as a "mercenary" motivated by wealth. Liu, by contrast, embodies a more relatable immigrant narrative, her family's activism amplifying her patriotic image in the US.
"This frames how the media and public view them-as the 'good' and 'bad' immigrant," said Professor Richard King of Columbia College Chicago. "Their racial backgrounds and immigrant experiences are reduced to political symbols."
Art and media amplify the divide
Chinese-Australian dissident artist Badiucao illustrated the contrast in a series of drawings: one depicted Liu standing before a Tiananmen Square tank, while another showed Gu holding a Chinese flag with shadowy figures beneath it. Far-right outlet The Daily Caller dubbed Gu the "true villain of the Winter Olympics."
Even support for Gu has drawn ire. Marvel actor Simu Liu faced backlash after praising her, with critics telling him to "go back to China."
Sport takes a backseat to politics
As the Games continue, the athletes' performances have been overshadowed by the debate. Gu's recent loss in the women's slopestyle-where she described feeling the "weight of two countries"-further fueled criticism, with some arguing she had no right to claim allegiance to the US.
"The 'New Cold War' climate has raised the stakes," said Professor Yinan He of Lehigh University. "Personal identity is now tied to national loyalty, leaving little room for dual identities."
Alysa Liu's comeback win for the US figure skating team has only intensified comparisons, with some online commentators framing her as the "patriotic" counterpoint to Gu.
A precarious landscape for Asian Americans
Scholars warn the episode highlights the fraught position of Asian Americans, who are often forced into narrow political molds. "Any act can dislocate them from the US," said Professor Stanley Thangaraj of Stonehill College.
For Gu and Liu, the scrutiny has turned a celebration of sport into a referendum on loyalty-one they never signed up for.
