Figure Skating Rivalry Born: Liu and Gu's Tense Olympics Proves Divided Loyalties Complicated
Alysa Liu's Olympic figure skating gold for the US sparked controversy after her story as a Chinese American immigrant was contrasted with Eileen Gu's decision to compete under China during the Beijing Olympics. The differing choices highlighted a proxy war between the two athletes' parents over their allegiances and identities.
Alysa Liu's historic Olympic figure skating gold for the US was followed by Eileen Gu's decision to represent China in a bid to promote her Chinese heritage and challenge the 'two faces' narrative that has defined Gu's career, sparking an Olympic proxy war between the two Chinese American stars. The controversy surrounding Gu's choices highlights the tensions between their Chinese heritage and their adopted home of the US. Liu's gold win was seen as a victory for athletes from mainland China who are not represented at the Games. The rivalry between the two has sparked debate about identity, loyalty, and the complexities of cultural representation.
