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After an Olympics of victories and controversies, American skier on the Chinese team Eileen Gu was seen sharing a moment with another elite female athlete who is often at the center of cultural debates.
Gu posted an Instagram Story of her and Clark at Milan Fashion Week on Thursday, just days after Gu won gold at the Winter Olympics. The two were seen sitting next to each other in the front row at Prada.
The photo of the two women’s sports superstars sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some fans excited to see them next to each other, while critics expressed disapproval, amid Gu’s decision to compete for China despite growing up in the United States.
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Chinese gold medalist Eileen Gu poses with her medals after winning the women’s freestyle skiing halfpipe final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
“Why is Caitlin degrading her public image? Where is her publicist,” one reviewer wrote on X.
Another reviewer wrote: “What a bad decision on Caitlin Clark’s part. »
Meanwhile, one fan celebrated, writing: “A superstar basketball player sat next to a superstar Olympian IN MILAN, come on Caitlin, this is so cool.”
Gu attended the fashion event shortly after the Milan Cortina games ended, as she has a second career as a model and has even walked the catwalk in the past.
Gu’s participation comes after the star skier broke down in tears after winning gold in the women’s half-pipe final on Sunday, revealing that her grandmother had died before the competition.
That concluded an Olympics she had to compete in under immense global scrutiny in response to her decision to compete for China seven years ago.
Gu was asked if she felt “like a punching bag for a certain part of American politics.”
“Yes,” she said, according to USA Today. “So many athletes compete for a different country… People only have a problem with me because they lump China into this monolithic entity, and they just hate China. So it’s not really what they think.
“And also, because I’m winning. Like, if I wasn’t doing well, I think they probably wouldn’t care as much, and that’s fine with me. People are entitled to their opinions.”
During this time, Clark became a folk hero to many Americans thanks to her excellence on the basketball court and her historic achievements in the WNBA and in college.
However, Clark has also been the target of a number of WNBA fans and even current and former players.
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Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky watch during the game on June 1, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
Criticism of Caitlin Clark stems primarily from her rapid rise as the face of the WNBA, causing tension among veterans who feel her immense popularity overshadows their long-term contributions.
Some controversy surrounding Clark has also centered around her presence as a white woman in a predominantly black sport, as some fans have argued that Clark receives preferential treatment from the media due to her race, while other fans argue the exact opposite and that she is physically targeted by other players during games.
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