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They want to be on an Olympic team, and the US team was too competitive. Easier to get on another team
The competition however is not on the field of play, it is about the sponsorships and how much her image can drive advertising. And on that level she is guessing that she can sell more stuff as Chinese than as an American who can point to most of her ancestors being from China.
Non sequitur? I'll rephrase. She has been nothing but a model citizen in America. Considering all the other characters we have here, there are better and more qualified candidates to exile and have leave the country.
The part about renouncing her US citizenship is speculation and she would not answer the question directly when asked by reporters.
We in America are taking her decision to ski for a certain country the wrong way. We've made it political. She just wants to ski and make an impact, using her sport, in a land where she can be most influential. This is not meant to be a political move or statement on her part. -It's just skiing (and maybe a career move). She said she loves America and appreciates it.
Ref the highlighted -- because carrying the flag and calling that act as 'representing the country' is a political statement.
China is treating the Olympics as a grand political statement, nothing more. China sees the Olympics as a political statement greater than the US does. Why else did they plied Gu with money and privileges most Chinese people will never have? And if you think covert money was not involved, you are more naive than you think.
I grew up in China and I guarantee you Eurasians are considered "beautiful" in China and are praised a lot.
Personally I consider it a problem but that's the way.
In recent years, many actresses from Xinjiang are popular in China for the same reason (central Asians look like white-Asian mixed).
I know what you are talking about especially with the popular skin whitening beauty treatment. But that is the point: beauty. Or standards of beauty. Not about ethnicity or genes or race. I have mixed race family members and they are physically more attractive than I am. Growing up in Hawai'i, I have plenty of friends and know plenty of people who are mixed races. But all of them know they will never be regarded as Chinese, JPNese, or Korean, or whatever Asian country where their parents came from because of that 'one drop of blood' from that other race.
This said, many athletes (I'd say majority) definitely compete for their own countries. I have more respect towards them, but this is just my personal preference and opinion. I have nothing against those who don't.
If they joined other country's military, then it is another story.
The competition however is not on the field of play, it is about the sponsorships and how much her image can drive advertising. And on that level she is guessing that she can sell more stuff as Chinese than as an American who can point to most of her ancestors being from China.
Yes, it's called capitalism! She made a personal decision to capitalize on her unique identity and ability to maximize her personal brand. It's the American way, why are people so critical of her choice.
Yes, it's called capitalism! She made a personal decision to capitalize on her unique identity and ability to maximize her personal brand. It's the American way, why are people so critical of her choice.
Capitalism? Fine. Have you ever been critical of anyone on their choice capitalism? Never?
China gives financial support to its athletes, housing, training, way beyond anything they can get in the US. The US does provide opportunities for great wealth in endorsements to those who are successful. Eileen Gu will become a two-nation star, benefitting from all that China has given her and all that US advertisers will offer.
All that and Gu's mom happens to be a venture capitalist specializing in US/ China investments. I wonder what kind of sweetheart deals will fall into her favor for brokering the transaction of a potential (now confirmed) medal winner to a country with whom she does big $$$ business on a regular basis?
Seems this might be more about meddling than medaling.
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