Eileen Gu has established herself as one of the icons of freestyle skiing. Born in the United States, Gu decided to follow her roots and compete for China. Since 2019, Gu has specialized in events like Big Air, Slopestyle, and Halfpipe. Her incredible talent led her to take the sporting realm by storm as she left an indelible mark in the minds of her fans. Her international joyride started way back in the 2020 Winter Youth Games, where Gu won two gold and a silver medal. 

However, it was 2021 when her career truly skyrocketed. Taking part in the Winter X Games, the 21-year-old won two golds and a bronze, followed by the World Championships. Gu once again got herself a couple of gold medals along with a bronze in Aspen. Riding high on confidence about having won 4 major gold medals in a year, the 2022 Beijing Olympics turned out to be a memorable one for the Chinese star. Gu took gold medals in the Big Air and Halfpipe categories while settling with a silver in Slopestyle. 

Eileen Gu reflects on post-Olympics depression

Well, up until now, if you thought that Gu’s biggest achievements are just her athletic accolades, wait till you unravel the next layer. Eileen Gu is a professional model too! And her achievements? Well, she was featured on the cover of Vogue Hong Kong for the third time this year. Reflecting on her professional life in an interview with Vogue recently, the 21-year-old touched upon the dark chapters of her life. 

Revealing her mental battles after she won the Olympics in 2022 and 2023, Gu stated that she felt lost. Once she was crowned as the Olympic champion, the freeskier immediately reflected on what could be next for her. Having won the highest honor in athletics, the 21-year-old was left with no answer, and hence, she slumped into depression. But such a situation is not an uncommon one for the athletes. In fact, Gu emphasized that a lot of professional athletes go through a similar process. “Many Olympic athletes feel lost after the Olympics, and I struggled intensely with my mental health for much of 2022 and 2023,” Gu stated. 

Thankfully, over time, the skier matured as she gained more experience. Gu has now understood that the greatest joy is not all about personal success. Instead, it would be to share the gained knowledge among a wide variety of audiences to enlighten them about the process too. Thus, it wants to break stereotypes and inspire the younger generation, who, perhaps, are scared to take that first leap of faith. And it is for the same reason that Eileen Gu opened up about her tough path to glory. 

Eileen Gu chooses a painful path aiming for glory

For most athletes, pain is a hurdle. For Eileen Gu, it was a companion she couldn’t shake off easily. The 21-year-old Olympic champion, known for her fearless skiing and relentless drive, returned to Aspen’s Buttermilk Mountain for the X Games with a mission. After missing last year’s event due to a knee ligament injury and a bone bruise, Gu’s determination to reclaim her place at the pinnacle of freestyle skiing was unwavering. But her journey was far from smooth. 

She defied all odds to clinch gold in the women’s superpipe. “Had to dig deep for this one,” Gu shared. Reflecting on the heavy training fall that left her struggling to walk, she added, “I could barely walk and was skiing with an unprecedented level of pain.” Despite all adversities, Gu delivered awe-inspiring runs. She scored an impressive 94.66 on her first attempt and raised the bar to 95.66 on her third. A handwritten note on her hand during the event read, “Pain is temporary,” which served as a mantra behind her win.

In a post-win interview with X Games, Gu opened up about the emotional and physical toll of competing through pain. “I have never skied with pain like this before. Let alone compete,” she admitted. While her heroics earned her the spotlight, they also left her bedridden, forcing her to skip a few events. As she eyes a return to full strength, Gu’s resilience underscores her determination to represent China at the 2026 Winter Olympics. And her spirit to compete despite all obstacles truly proves that greatness often comes at a price.