Eileen Gu fires back at “ridiculous” question about Olympic silvers
Eileen Gu’s fiery response to a reporter has raised an important question about “ridiculous” standards for Olympians after she won two silvers in the Games.
Eileen Gu has two silver medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and she’s rightfully proud of them. So the 22-year-old freestyle skiing star didn’t hide her frustration after being asked whether she was disappointed to come away with silver in both big air and slopestyle at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Eileen Gu calls out reporter over silver medal question
The reporter’s question was this: “Do you see these as two silvers gained or two golds lost?”
After laughing out loud and smiling, Gu called the reporter out on the “ridiculous” question.
“I’m the most decorated female freeskier in history. I think that’s an answer in and of itself” Gu said. “Winning a medal at the Olympics is a life-changing experience for every athlete. Doing it five times is exponentially harder, because every medal is equally hard for me, but everybody else’s expectations rise, right? And so the two medals lost situation, to be quite frank with you, I think it’s kind of a ridiculous perspective to take.”
“I’m showcasing my best skiing,” she continued. “I’m doing things that quite literally have never been done before, and so I think that is more than good enough. But thank you.”
The San Francisco-born skier, who represents China internationally, entered the Games with enormous expectations after winning two gold medals and a silver at the 2022 Olympics. Now with five career Olympic medals, she remains one of the most accomplished freestyle skiers in history. Yet the tone of the reporter’s question suggests that silver, for her, equals underachievement.
That’s the dynamic Gu appears to be pushing back against. For many Olympians, a single medal defines their whole career. And yet for Gu, two silvers in one Games somehow prompted talk of disappointment.
Gu is also competing in all three freestyle skiing events - big air, slopestyle and halfpipe - making her the only woman attempting the triple this year. That schedule has drawn scrutiny as well.
Earlier in the Games, she voiced frustration with the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, suggesting the Olympic schedule didn’t adequately support athletes attempting multiple disciplines.
“I think the Olympics should epitomize aspiration,” Gu said. “Being able to do something that’s beyond the ordinary should be celebrated instead of punished.”
Her comments reflect the weight of being both a global sports icon and a medal favorite every time she drops in.
At 22, Gu’s career is already historic. She is widely considered the most decorated female freeskier ever and one of the faces of the Winter Games. She has endorsement deals that place her among the highest-earning winter athletes in the world. And her response shows her discontent with the idea that a silver is anything less than a huge accomplishment.
With the halfpipe competition still ahead, she’ll have another opportunity to add to her medal haul. But her latest comments remind us that five Olympic medals, of any color, are anything but ridiculous.
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