Winter Olympics 2026: Why Eileen Guo and Alysa Liu have divided social media
BBC World
February 13, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan have sparked an unexpected online debate centered on two Chinese-American athletes: Eileen Guo, representing China, and Alysa Liu, competing for the United States. The controversy has been fueled by differing views on their loyalties and immigrant experiences, with social media users taking opposing sides based on political perspectives. While Guo is celebrated in China as a national icon and trailblazer, Liu faces criticism from some Americans for her family's ties to China's political past, particularly her father's involvement in the Tiananmen Square protests.
Eileen Guo, known as "Snow Princess," was raised by her Chinese-American mother, Yan Gu, a venture capitalist. She spent her summers in Beijing and competed for the U.S. before switching to Team China ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Her decision earned her widespread acclaim in China, where she is seen as an inspiration and a symbol of cultural duality. Guo's success has made her one of the highest-paid female athletes globally, with a reported annual earnings of $23 million.
Alysa Liu, on the other hand, competes under the U.S. flag despite her Chinese heritage. Her father, a political activist who fled China after the Tiananmen Square crackdown, has led some online commentators to question her loyalty to the U.S., with one post calling her a "trait
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/13/2026