*This content was translated by AI.
Elisa Liu (20) of the United States, who won two gold medals in figure skating at the 2026 Milan and Cortina D'Ampezzo Winter Olympics, actively defended Aileen Gu (Chinese name Gu Ailing, 22), a freestyle ski star who was at the center of controversy by choosing the Chinese national team.
"In a recent interview, Rio compared himself to Eileen Gu and criticized the public opinion that raised the issue of nationality selection as a 'really silly debate,'" the US' Athlone Sports reported on the 5th (local time).
Rio and Gu reportedly have a lot in common. Both are mixed-race Chinese-Americans from the San Francisco Bay Area in the United States. Liu grew up in Oakland and Gu grew up in San Francisco.
Rio competed for the U.S. national team and became the first U.S. female figure skater to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics since 2002. On the other hand, the district chose the Chinese national team and set a new record as the first six-time Olympic medalist in freestyle skiing history.
In an interview, Liu said, "We are both mixed-race Chinese, and this discussion itself is really funny." "Eileen-gu is really great, friendly, and has a lot of athleticism. I've known her since I was 13, and I can feel her love for the game."
In particular, Rio said something meaningful, "Some people think it's a little hypocritical," as if targeting some of the criticisms of the district. Liu left out details, but appears to have shot some fans and media, especially Chinese fans, who are attempting to alienate.
In response to the district's remarks, "I'm an American when I'm in the United States, I'm Chinese when I'm in China," Chinese fans have criticized that "I only pretend to be Chinese when I make money or play, and I usually enjoy freedom in the United States."
Meanwhile, Liu's father is Arthur Liu, a Chinese human rights activist who defected to the United States in 1989. Liu is known to have been born through a surrogate mother. Eileen Gu, on the other hand, was born to a first-generation Chinese immigrant mother and an American father.
Fans applauded Rio's mature attitude, saying, "Rio is smart enough not to fall into the trap of alienating the two genius players," and "It's cool to see him never undermine someone."
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*This content was translated by AI.
