Eileen Gu can dazzle in and out of her tracksuit.

You cannot keep Eileen Gu down. Gu won her fifth Olympic medal, becoming the most decorated female freestyle skier. However, she has been a controversial figure since waving the Chinese flag rather than the United States flag.

She just made history by winning her second medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. After winning silver at the slopestyle final, the 22-year-old bagged a second medal with a second-place finish at the big air competition on Monday.

Her accomplishments should be the story, but complaints of many in the US have overshadowed them. It has made her a target for Americans and others across the world, with Vice President JD Vance chiming in. He stated he hopes athletes born here would “want to compete with the United States of America.” Gu often explained her decision in personal terms. In a 2021 interview with ESPN, she added, “When I’m in the US, I’m American, but when I’m in China, I’m Chinese.”

Eileen Gu was asked if she currently feels “like a bit of a punching bag for a certain strand of American politics” after her competition on Thursday.

“I do,” she said, per USA Today. “So many athletes compete for a different country. … People only have a problem with me doing it because they kind of lump China into this monolithic entity, and they just hate China. So it’s not really about what they think it’s about.

“And also, because I win. Like if I wasn’t doing well, I think that they probably wouldn’t care as much, and that’s OK for me. People are entitled to their opinions.”

Despite the backlash she receives, she continues to be praised.

SI Praises Skier Eileen Gu

Feb 16, 2026; Livigno, Italy; Silver medalist Ailing Eileen Gu of the People’s Republic of China (Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)
Eileen Gu was photographed by Ben Horton in Boca Raton, Fla., for the 2025 SI Swimsuit Issue. She was not as well-known to millions across the world at that time. However, the Winter Olympics and backlash have gotten her many followers on social media.

SI Swimsuit certainly helped that cause when they shared a picture from her photoshoot this week. Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue took to social media to congratulate the star athlete.

“Just a reminder: @eileengu is the most decorated female freestyle skier in Olympic history,” SI Swim captioned its Thursday. The stunning photo showed the skier in a gorgeous white one-piece with sheer paneling.

“And one of the hottest! 😍🔥🤍💛,” commented one fan.

“As well as the hottest 🔥🔥,” repeated another.

“She’s talented and beautiful ❤️❤️,” added a third.

“And she’s a baddie!! ❤️‍🔥” commented a fourth.

“A flawless aesthetic 🤍,” raved a fifth.

Gu is extremely proud of what she has achieved in her skiing career. She knows well that she has reshaped the sport with her unmatched success.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.