History of Eileen Gu in Timeline

"Eileen Gu, also known as Gu Ailing, is a freestyle skier who represents China in competitions. Born in the United States, she switched her allegiance to China in 2019. Gu specializes in halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air events."

2002: Death of Eileen Gu's Aunt and Naming Inspiration

Yan Gu's sister, Ling, died in a car crash in 2002. Yan Gu, Eileen Gu's mother, decided to name her daughter 爱凌 (Ailing), which translates to "Love Ling", in honor of her late sister.

September 3, 2003: Birth of Eileen Gu

Eileen Feng Gu was born on September 3, 2003.

2018: Brad Prosser Becomes Technical Coach for Chinese National Team

Brad Prosser, who met Eileen Gu when she was 10, became the technical coach guide to the Chinese national team for the 2022 Winter Olympics in 2018.

2018: Eileen Gu Competes for the United States

Eileen Gu competed for the United States at the 2018–19 FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup.

June 2019: Eileen Gu Begins Competing for China

Eileen Gu began competing for China in June 2019 after requesting and being granted a change of nation with the International Ski Federation. She announced the change on Weibo and Instagram, stating that she hoped to "help inspire millions of young people" in China and "to unite people, promote common understanding, create communication, and forge friendships between nations."

2019: Eileen Gu Begins Competing for China

Eileen Gu began competing for China in halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air events in 2019.

December 2020: Eileen Gu Accepted to Stanford University

Eileen Gu received early admittance to Stanford University, her mother's alma mater, in December 2020.

2020: China Broadens Rules for Foreigners Obtaining Permanent Residency

In 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Justice broadened rules that would allow foreigners who have achieved international recognition in sport, science, culture, and other fields to obtain permanent residency.

2021: Eileen Gu's Success at the 2021 Winter X Games

At the 2021 Winter X Games, Eileen Gu won a bronze medal in Big Air and two gold medals in SuperPipe and Slopestyle, making her the first rookie to achieve a gold medal in Women's Ski SuperPipe, the first rookie to medal in three events, and the first athlete representing China to win a gold medal at the X Games.

2021: Eileen Gu Makes History at the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships

Eileen Gu competed at the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships 2021, winning two gold medals in Freeski Halfpipe and Freeski Slopestyle and a bronze medal in Freeski Big Air. She made history as the first freeskier to win two golds at the FIS Freeski World Championship. Due to a fractured finger and torn UCL in her thumb, she competed without poles for the first time.

2021: Eileen Gu Speaks Out Against Anti-Asian Racism

Eileen Gu has spoken out against anti-Asian racism in the United States, particularly after the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings and the killing of Vicha Ratanapakdee, and has described her own experiences with racism.

2021: Eileen Gu Lands Historic Forward Double Cork 1440

Eileen Gu made history in 2021 by becoming the first woman to land a forward double cork 1440 in competition.

2021: Start of Eileen Gu's Dominant 2021-2022 World Cup Season

Eileen Gu's dominant 2021-2022 World Cup season began, which would see her achieve a perfect record in women's halfpipe.

2021: Eileen Gu's Endorsement Earnings

It is reported that Eileen Gu earned over US$30 million in 2021 alone through endorsements and advertising contracts.

January 2022: Eileen Gu Wins Gold at the 2022 Winter Olympics

At the 2022 Winter Olympics, Eileen Gu became the youngest gold medalist in freestyle skiing, winning the big air event. In a groundbreaking feat, she landed a double cork 1620, a trick she had never attempted in competition before, becoming the second woman ever and the first to land a left-turn 1620. Tess Ledeux was the first to successfully complete a double cork 1620 on January 21, 2022, at the X Games in Aspen, Colorado.

February 2022: Results Current as of February 2022

Results were current through February 1, 2022.

May 2022: Eileen Gu Mentions Conversion to Buddhism

In May 2022, Eileen Gu mentioned that she had converted to Buddhism.

May 2022: Eileen Gu Addresses Her Identity and Ancestry

In May 2022, Eileen Gu referred to herself as Asian American. She has stated in other interviews that "Nobody can deny I'm American, nobody can deny I'm Chinese" and "Since I was little, I've always said when I'm in the U.S., I'm American, but when I'm in China, I'm Chinese."

2022: Eileen Gu's Olympic Success and Controversy

At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, 18-year-old Eileen Gu became the youngest Olympic champion in freestyle skiing, winning gold in big air and halfpipe, and silver in slopestyle. She became the first freestyle skier to win three medals at a single Winter Olympics. Her decision to compete for China drew international attention and controversy.

2022: Eileen Gu Starts at Stanford and Attends Le Bal des débutantes

Eileen Gu began her freshman year at Stanford University and was presented as a debutante at Le Bal des débutantes in Paris in 2022.

2022: Eileen Gu Wins Two Crystal Globes in 2021-2022 World Cup Season

Eileen Gu concluded the 2021-2022 World Cup season with a perfect record in women's halfpipe, earning her first career crystal globe and becoming the first freestyle skier to win four consecutive World Cup competitions. She also claimed her second crystal globe by placing first in Park & Pipe overall.

2022: Eileen Gu's Continued Success at the 2022 Winter Olympics and ESPY Awards

Eileen Gu won the silver medal in the slopestyle event at the 2022 Winter Olympics. She went on to win a second gold medal in the women's freeski halfpipe competition, making her the first freestyle skier to win three medals at a Winter Olympics. In recognition of her achievements, she was honored with the Best Breakthrough Athlete and Best Female Action Sports Athlete ESPY Awards at the 2022 ESPY Awards.

2022: Eileen Gu's Coaching Team for the 2022 Olympics

Eileen Gu's coaching team for the 2022 Winter Olympics included Jamie Melton, Brad Prosser, and Misra Noto Torniainen, the former coach of the Swiss freeski team who had coached Olympic medalists Sarah Höfflin and Mathilde Gremaud for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

2022: Eileen Gu Aims to Compete in 2022 Winter Olympics for China

Eileen Gu's goal in switching to the Chinese team was to compete for China in the 2022 Winter Olympics.

2022: Eileen Gu's Endorsement Fees Increase

Media reports indicated that Eileen Gu's average fee per endorsement rose from $1 million in 2021 to between $2 and $2.5 million in 2022.

2022: Eileen Gu Named One of Time's 100 Most Influential People

Time named Eileen Gu as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022, placing her in the "Pioneers" category.

2023: Eileen Gu Ranked Second-Highest Earning Female Athlete by Forbes

Forbes listed Eileen Gu as the second-highest earning female athlete in the world in 2023.

January 2024: Eileen Gu Announces Intention to Compete in 2026 Winter Olympics for China

Eileen Gu announced in January 2024 that she plans to represent China at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

2024: Eileen Gu Wins Gold at 2024 Winter X Games Despite Injury

Eileen Gu won gold in SuperPipe at the 2024 Winter X Games, despite sustaining a right hip injury during Slopestyle training. She wrote "Pain is Temporary" on her hand, displaying it to cameras during the finals. Due to pain, she did not participate in Slopestyle.