Eileen Gu gets hero’s welcome in hometown of San Francisco
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Eileen Gu gets hero’s welcome in hometown of San Francisco originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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Olympic freestyle skiing star Eileen Gu returned to her hometown Saturday night and received loud cheers while serving as grand marshal of the annual Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco.
The San Francisco native became one of the most talked-about athletes of the last two Winter Olympics after choosing to represent China rather than the United States on the global stage. The decision sparked criticism in some corners of American media even as Gu’s international profile continued to grow.
On Saturday evening in Chinatown, however, the atmosphere told a different story.
Gu served as Grand Marshal of San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade, one of the largest Lunar New Year celebrations outside of Asia. As the parade wound through the city streets, spectators leaned against barricades and lifted phones into the air hoping to capture a glimpse of the Olympic champion.
Riding in the back of a red Mustang convertible, Gu smiled and waved as the crowd called out her name. Parents lifted children onto their shoulders for a better view while cheers followed her car along the route.
Among the spectators were a number of excited middle school students from Katherine Delmar Burke School, where Gu graduated in 2017, cheering on their school’s most famous alum.
For many along the parade route, Gu’s international identity was exactly what made the moment special.
“I love how she represents the city,” one attendee said in video footage from the Associated Press. “She represents China and the U.S. It’s very diverse. That’s her identity, both countries, so she gets the best of both worlds.”
Ahead of the festivities, Eileen reflected on the honor during an interview with ABC7 in San Francisco.
“This is a special thing to be Grand Marshal and be part of it,” Gu said.
The 22 year old superstar also spoke about the connection she still feels to the city where she grew up.
“Growing up in San Francisco, the Chinatown atmosphere is so special,” Eileen said. “Every time I see the lanterns hanging and smell the food and see the people walking around, it reminds me of home.”
Family traditions during the holiday remain meaningful as well.
“Chinese New Year is probably the biggest holiday in Chinese culture,” Gu added. “I remember growing up making dumplings with my mom and grandma in San Francisco and learning how to roll the dough.”
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Gu also shared a New Year’s message for those celebrating the holiday. “I wish everybody a magical, wonderful and prosperous Year of the Horse…a lot of health to everybody and their families and just joy.”
Eileen has won multiple Olympic medals across the 2022 and 2026 Winter Games and remains one of the most recognizable athletes in freestyle skiing.
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Debates about her Olympic allegiance continue online. In San Francisco, the critics were hard to hear over the cheers.