China Paid U.S.-Born Olympians Millions, Report Reveals
The Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau reportedly paid a combined $6.6 million to American-born athletes Eileen Gu and Zhu Yi in 2025, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. The payments, totaling nearly $14 million over three years, were intended to incentivize “excellent results in qualifying for the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics.” The names of Gu and Zhu were subsequently removed from the public budget report after the information became public.
Eileen Gu, a freestyle skier born in San Francisco, chose to compete for China rather than the United States in 2019, citing a desire to “inspire” children in her mother’s country. She won two gold medals and a silver at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and has since become a highly sought-after endorser, earning upwards of $23 million in 2025, with all but $20,000 of that income coming from endorsements.
Gu currently has a silver medal in slopestyle at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics and is scheduled to compete in women’s halfpipe and big air. After securing the silver medal, Gu reflected on the pressures of representing two countries, stating, “Sometimes it feels like I’m carrying the weight of two countries on my shoulders. Just being able to ski through all of that, you know. To still show my best and still be so deeply in love with the sport…That’s really what I care about and I’m so happy to represent that today.”
Zhu Yi, a figure skater born Beverly Zhu in Los Angeles, also competes for China and reportedly received a portion of the $6.6 million payment. However, she is not competing in the 2026 Winter Games.
The revelation of these payments has sparked scrutiny regarding Gu’s citizenship. China does not permit dual citizenship, meaning Gu ostensibly relinquished her U.S. Passport to compete for China. The details of her citizenship status remain unclear.
The payments came to light when the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau’s budget was briefly made public, listing Gu and Zhu by name. Following the exposure, officials removed their names from the publicly available report. Reports indicate that online discussions questioning the payments were also subsequently removed from Chinese social media platforms, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Gu’s financial success extends far beyond competition winnings. Her substantial income is largely driven by endorsements, reflecting her significant commercial appeal. She was the fourth-highest earning female athlete in 2025, demonstrating the lucrative opportunities available to athletes who achieve international recognition.
