Eileen Gu sends ominous warning to USA skier Hunter Hess over bitter feud with Donald Trump
Eileen Gu has told controversial American skier Hunter Hess that he picked a fight he can’t win after provoking Donald Trump by saying he’s indifferent at representing USA in the Winter Olympics.
Hess sparked outrage in the White House last week by saying he felt conflicted about representing his country on the biggest stage amid a backdrop of tension over the ICE raids in Minnesota, where two people lost their life.
Trump hit out on Truth Social, saying he wouldn’t support Hess when he competes in freestyle skiing on February 19-20, branding him ‘a real loser’.
But he has support from Gu, who herself has faced huge scrutiny over her decision to represent China in skiing despite being raised in California.
Calling the feud ‘an unwinnable press war’ for Hess, Gu said: ‘I’m sorry that the headline that is eclipsing the Olympics has to be something so unrelated to the spirit of the Games. It really runs contrary to everything the Olympics should be.
‘As someone who’s been caught in the crossfire before, I feel sorry for the athletes.’
Eileen Gu told Hunter Hess he is in an ‘unwinnable war’ after words that angered Donald Trump
Hess said he was indifferent at representing Team USA amid a backdrop of political tension
A furious Trump called Hess ‘a real loser’ who he would not support at the Winter Olympics
She continued: ‘The whole point of sport is to bring people together.
‘One of the very few common languages, that of the human body, that of the human spirit, the competitive spirit, the capacity to break not only records, but especially in our sport, literally the human limit. How wonderful is that?’
Hess appears to have heeded the message, posting on Instagram on Monday about his love for America.
Posting alongside a USA flag emoji, Hess wrote: ‘I love my country. There is so much that is great about America, but there are always things that could be better.
‘One of the many things that makes this country so amazing is that we have the right and the freedom to point that out. The best part of the Olympics is that it brings people together, and when so many of us are divided we need that more than ever.
‘I cannot wait to represent Team USA next week when I compete. Thanks to everyone for their support.’
It marked a shift in tone from Hess’s comments last week, where he told reporters in Italy: ‘It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now, I think. It’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t.
‘I think, for me, it’s more I’m representing my friends and family back home, the people that represented it before me, all the things that I believe are good about the U.S.
‘If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it. Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.’
Meanwhile Gu, who missed out on gold in the free ski slopestyle this week, is back in Olympic action on Saturday, February 14 in the Big Air event.
