The Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau reportedly paid U.S.-born athletes Eileen Gu and Zhu Yi nearly $14 million over three years to compete for China in the 2026 Winter Olympics. The payments, totaling $6.6 million in 2025 alone, were documented in a budget report before their names were scrubbed from public records, revealing substantial financial incentives for athletes representing China.

Born in San Francisco, Gu switched her allegiance to China in 2019 and won two golds and a silver at the 2022 Beijing Games. The freeskier earned approximately $23 million in 2025, making her the fourth-highest paid female athlete worldwide, with virtually all income coming from endorsements rather than her athletic performance, highlighting the commercial value of Olympic representation.

The payments raise questions about China's sports recruitment strategy and athlete compensation models. Gu, carrying what she calls "the weight of two countries," continues competition in halfpipe and big air events while navigating China's strict no-dual-citizenship policy that likely required her to renounce her U.S. passport, creating a complex identity and legal situation for the Olympic medalist.