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Former footballer Megan Rapinoe has weighed in on the debate over Eileen Gu’s decision to represent China despite growing up in the United States.
Gu, a U.S.-born athlete competing for the Chinese freestyle ski team, became one of the most controversial topics at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics while becoming the most accomplished women’s freestyle skier in history.
Controversy arose after the The Wall Street Journal reported that Gu and another American-born athlete who now competes for China received a total of $6.6 million from the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau in 2025.
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Megan Rapinoe warms up before the NWSL Championship semifinal match against the San Diego Wave FC at Snapdragon Stadium on November 5, 2023. (Ray Acevedo/USA Today Sports)
Gu is the highest-paid Winter Olympic athlete in the world, earning an estimated $23 million in 2025 alone through partnerships with Chinese companies including the Bank of China and Western firms.
Rapinoe considers Gu’s choice to compete for China a “great business decision.”
“Great business decision on his part, I just have to say,” Rapinoe said on her podcast with co-host and wife Sue Bird. “No shame in that game.”
Rapinoe and Bird then commented on a viral interaction between Gu and a reporter who asked the skier if she considered her two Olympic silver medals wasted opportunities to win gold. Gu suggested that the reporter’s question came from a ridiculous point of view after making fun of him.
“That might be the best answer I’ve ever heard to a question like that,” Bird said. “Perfect answer.
Silver medalist Eileen Gu of China poses for photos after the awards ceremony of the women’s big air freestyle skiing event at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Livigno, Italy, February 16, 2026. (Wang Peng/Xinhua via Getty Images)
“I love what she said. … She hit that man, so hard.”
Rapinoe and Bird agreed that Gu’s approach is “a great way to be raised.”
Gu became the target of global criticism during these Olympics for her decision to represent China while remaining silent about alleged human rights abuses in the country.
In an interview with Time magazine, Gu was asked for his opinion on China’s alleged persecution of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.
“I haven’t done any research. I don’t think it’s my business. I’m not going to make big statements on my social media,” Gu responded.
“I’m just more skeptical of data in general. … So it’s not like I can read an article and go, ‘Oh, well, that must be the truth.’ I need a ton of proof. Maybe I have to go out there, maybe talk to 10 primary source people who are in a place and have experienced life there.
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China’s Eileen Gu reacts after her first jump during the women’s big air freestyle skiing qualification during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Snow Park in Livigno, February 14, 2026. (Joe Camporeale/Imagn Images)
“Then I need to go see pictures. I need to listen to recordings. I need to think about how history affects him. Then I need to read books about how politics affects him. It’s a lifelong pursuit. It’s irresponsible to ask me to be a spokesperson for any agenda.”
Rapinoe and Bird are self-proclaimed champions of equality and social justice. They didn’t mention Gu’s silence on China’s human rights abuses during Thursday’s episode of the podcast.
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