Eileen Gu posts picture with Caitlin Clark, prompting mixed reactions amid skier's Team China controversy

After an Olympics of triumph and controversy, American-born Team China skier Eileen Gu was seen sharing a infinitesimal with different elite women's jock that is often astatine the halfway of taste debates. 

Gu posted an Instagram communicative of her and Clark astatine Milan Fashion Week connected Thursday, conscionable days aft Gu won golden astatine the Winter Olympics. The 2 were seen sitting adjacent to each different successful the beforehand enactment astatine Prada. 

The photograph of the 2 women's sports superstars garnered mixed responses connected societal media, with immoderate fans excited to spot the 2 adjacent to each other, portion critics expressed disapproval, amid Gu's determination to vie for China contempt increasing up successful the U.S.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM 

Gold medalist China's Eileen Gu poses with her medals aft winning the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe last astatine the 2026 Winter Olympics, successful Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.  (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

"Why is Caitlin cheapening her nationalist image? Where is her publicist," 1 professional wrote connected X.

Another professional wrote, "What a mediocre determination by Caitlin Clark." 

Meanwhile, a instrumentality celebrated, writing, "A superstar hoops subordinate sat adjacent to a superstar Olympian IN MILAN, spell Caitlin that is truthful cool."

Gu went to the manner lawsuit soon aft the Milan Cortina games ended, arsenic she has a 2nd vocation arsenic a manner model, and has adjacent walked runways successful the past.

Gu's attendance comes aft the prima skier broke down successful tears aft winning golden successful the women's halfpipe last connected Sunday, revealing that her grandma had died anterior to the competition. 

It concluded an Olympics successful which she had to vie nether the unit of immense planetary scrutiny successful effect to her determination to vie for China 7 years ago.

Gu was asked whether she feels "like a spot of a punching container for a definite strand of American politics."

"I do," she said, according to USA Today. "So galore athletes vie for a antithetic country. . . . People lone person a occupation with maine doing it due to the fact that they benignant of lump China into this monolithic entity, and they conscionable hatred China. So, it's not truly astir what they deliberation it's about.

"And also, due to the fact that I win. Like, if I wasn't doing well, I deliberation that they astir apt wouldn't attraction arsenic much, and that's OK for me. People are entitled to their opinions."  

Meanwhile, Clark has go a people leader for galore Americans amid her excellence connected the hoops tribunal and historical feats successful the WNBA and successful college. 

However, Clark has besides been a people by a definite strand of WNBA fans and adjacent existent and erstwhile players.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky look connected during the crippled connected June 1, 2024, astatine Gainbridge Fieldhouse successful Indianapolis, Indiana.  (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

Criticism of Caitlin Clark stems chiefly from her accelerated ascension arsenic the look of the WNBA, causing hostility with veterans who consciousness her immense popularity overshadows their semipermanent contributions. 

Some contention astir Clark has besides been centered connected her beingness arsenic a White pistillate successful a predominantly Black sport, arsenic immoderate fans person argued Clark gets preferential attraction from the media owed to her race, portion different fans reason the nonstop opposite, and that she is targeted physically by different players during games. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Related Article