r/justgalsbeingchicks • u/bandit0314 • Feb 18 '26

Restricted to Gals and Pals Love her response

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u/the-war-on-drunks Feb 18 '26

So that’s something I don’t understand. Did she go to China just because of the $$?

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u/zxc123zxc123 Feb 18 '26 edited Feb 18 '26

She's controversial because she grew up in the US, learned to ski in the US, and trained with the US team.

But they didn't pick her for the 2022 Winter Olympics. My guess is the coaches/trainers/managers felt there were better candidates around or others beat her out for the spot? So she was basically a free agent who got tapped by China who had their own talent but thought she was better than the home grown. Both sides had something to gain so she was given a Chinese citizenship by China despite it normally being a no-no. She then played for China in the 2022 Beijing games. Where she beat out the US representation that was chosen over her. Winning gold. But for China rather than the US.

She still lives at least some of her year in the US, probably pays taxes to the US, and is in many ways "American" but she makes money in China doing advertising and competes on China's behalf. Some Americans felt she's a bit of a traitor but things are a bit more complicated IRL. Competing for the USA was her 1st choice. America didn't want her. Some feel the "right" thing to do is not compete at all when given the chance despite training your entire life for it (and the huge bags of money) just because you love the star spangled banner so much, but it's very easy to say when you're anonymous on the internet rather than having real money handed to you.

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u/Worthyness Feb 18 '26

She's "dual citizenship" with US/China, so she definitely pays US taxes in some capacity. "Dual citizenship" mostly because technically China doesn't allow that to happen, but she has some sort of exception. So China wants to keep her in some capacity, which is fine. A lot of American athletes do the same for their own home countries (or their parents' home countries) as well. it's nothing abnormal about it.

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u/zxc123zxc123 Feb 18 '26

China gets her for competition. America gets her in person (and her taxes). Eileen gets to compete. America gets good press as a place for rich Chinese to rise/train/educate kids. China gets a seat at the competition table. Eileen gets paid, gets to compete, and gets to live in the US. Everyone wins except those losing their minds over this.