Alysa Liu vs Eileen Gu — How Two Chinese American Stars Wound Up on Opposite Sides of an Olympic Proxy War

The rivalry between Alysa Liu and Eileen Gu has come to symbolize more than athletic competition. As both athletes rise to global prominence at the Winter Olympics, their contrasting national affiliations have turned them into unlikely figures in a broader geopolitical struggle between the United States and China.
Though they share Chinese heritage and were both raised in the United States, Liu and Gu have made different choices about which flag to represent. Those decisions have placed them at the center of heated debate over identity, loyalty, and the politicization of sport.
Two Paths from Similar Beginnings
Alysa Liu grew up in California and became one of America’s most promising figure skaters at a young age, winning national titles and emerging as a symbol of the U.S. skating future. She competes under the American flag and has consistently emphasized her identity as an American athlete shaped by the U.S. training system.
Eileen Gu, by contrast, made headlines when she chose to compete for China despite being born and raised in San Francisco. Her decision transformed her into a national celebrity in China and a marketing icon with sponsorship deals and widespread media coverage.
Both athletes have said their choices were personal and rooted in family ties and opportunity rather than politics. Yet their visibility has ensured that their decisions are interpreted politically whether they intend it or not.
Media and Public Reaction
In the United States, Gu’s decision sparked controversy and accusations of divided loyalty, while others defended her right to define her own identity. In China, she was celebrated as a homegrown champion returning to her cultural roots.
Liu, meanwhile, has been portrayed by American media as a symbol of domestic talent and perseverance, with her Olympic performances framed as part of the U.S. sporting narrative. Chinese social media users have sometimes contrasted her path with Gu’s, turning two athletes into symbols of competing national pride.
“Neither athlete asked to become a political statement,” said one sports sociologist. “But in today’s climate, elite athletes with dual cultural identities are inevitably drawn into geopolitical narratives.”
Sport as a Proxy Battleground
The rivalry reflects how the Olympics increasingly function as a stage for soft power competition. Medal counts and star athletes are viewed as reflections of national systems and global influence.
Gu’s success for China has been presented domestically as proof that China can attract global talent and compete with Western sports powers. Liu’s performances for the United States reinforce the American emphasis on individual achievement and freedom of choice.
This dynamic has fueled what some commentators call an “Olympic proxy war,” where athletic outcomes become symbolic victories in a wider ideological contest.
Personal Cost
Both athletes have faced intense scrutiny online. Gu has been targeted by critics in the U.S. accusing her of exploiting opportunities in both countries. Liu has endured pressure to perform not only as an athlete but as a representative of American values.
Friends and coaches say the athletes have tried to shield themselves from political commentary and remain focused on training. Yet the weight of expectations is difficult to escape.
“These are young women who want to skate and ski,” said a former Olympic coach. “Instead, they’re being treated like diplomats.”
What It Says About Identity
The Liu-Gu divide highlights a deeper tension faced by many Chinese Americans navigating multiple cultural identities in a polarized world. Their stories show how personal heritage can be reframed as political allegiance under international spotlight.
Rather than a simple rivalry, their parallel careers illustrate two valid expressions of identity: one rooted in birthplace and opportunity, the other in heritage and cultural connection.
Looking Ahead
As future Olympic Games approach, both athletes are expected to remain central figures in their respective national teams. Whether their rivalry continues to be framed politically may depend less on them and more on the evolving relationship between Washington and Beijing.
For now, Alysa Liu and Eileen Gu remain linked in public imagination — not because they compete directly, but because their choices represent opposite sides of a cultural and political fault line that extends far beyond sport.
Their journeys remind the world that in the modern Olympics, medals are no longer just about athletic excellence. They are also about identity, narrative, and the power of symbols in an age of global rivalry.