Olympian Eileen Gu says she feels like a 'punching bag' amid backlash for competing with China over US

Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom slams Olympic skier Eileen Gu for representing ‘the worst human rights abuser on the planet’ on ‘The Ingraham Angle.’

American-born Team China skier Eileen Gu responded to the global criticism she has received during the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. 

Her decision to compete for China despite being born in the U.S. has made her a target for Americans and others across the world, with Vice President JD Vance chiming in by saying he hopes athletes born here would "want to compete with the United States of America."

"I’m flattered. Thanks, JD! That’s sweet," Gu said of Vance's comments, per USA Today.

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. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Silver medalist Eileen Gu of China attends the award ceremony of the freestyle skiing women's freeski big air event at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Livigno, Italy, Feb. 16, 2026. (Hongxiang/Xinhua via Getty Images)

"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."

Gu has previously said she was "physically assaulted" for her decision to represent China.  

"The police were called. I’ve had death threats. I’ve had my dorm robbed," Gu told The Athletic. "I’ve gone through some things as a