Chloe Kim sends touching message to Eileen Gu | Sports News

Team USA snowboarder Chloe Kim reached out with a touching message to Eileen Gu after Gu secured a silver medal on the Winter Olympics, regardless of criticism surrounding her choice to compete for China as a substitute of the United States.

Gu captured silver within the slopestyle competitors on Monday, however NBC Sports encountered criticism from online detractors over its favorable protection of the athlete. Although Gu grew up in California, she elected to compete for China on the Winter Olympics and different premier competitions, a alternative that pissed off some Americans, given the geopolitical tensions between the nations.

Earlier within the week, Gu addressed athletes being trapped in media controversies when she defended Team USA competitor Hunter Hess, drawing from her own experiences. Despite these frictions, Kim demonstrated her sportsmanship by offering congratulations to Gu on her achievement.

The second adopted an incident the place an NBC commentator confronted scrutiny after his off-air remarks had been unintentionally broadcast.

Gu got here close to claiming Olympic gold, ending simply behind Switzerland’s Mathilde Gremaud, however expressed immense pleasure in her efficiency. She shared an emotional Instagram post that includes photos from Monday’s medal ceremony. 

“Olympic Silver and my best slopestyle run ever,” Gu wrote. “Proud to put my best out there when it counted today, during the most progressive women’s slopestyle contest ever. This last year has felt like making up for the previous three – I have never worked so hard for anything in my life. Beyond overcoming doubt and fear and injury, I feel I am finally progressing in my skiing again.

“Being higher at present than I used to be yesterday is essentially the most fulfilling half of snowboarding and life, and I’m so completely satisfied to have reentered that sacred state on the time once I needed it most. My first time doing the swap proper 2 in a Slopestyle contest!”

“And on the most important characteristic in my run! ! AND linking doubles for the primary time! ! Feeling completely satisfied and proud.” Kim showed her support for her fellow competitor by leaving love heart emojis on Gu’s post, adding: “Woooooo! ! ! Congrats lovie! !”.

Despite Kim and Gu brushing off any potential political controversy, NBC Sports has faced fierce criticism for its Monday broadcast. The network’s glowing coverage of Gu sparked furious responses from viewers across social media platforms.

“NBC gushing over Eileen Gu is nauseating,” one viewer posted on X. “The approach NBC is pushing Eileen Gu on us is insane… I do not root towards people, however I definitely am not rooting for the American who selected to signify China as a substitute of us,” another chimed in.

A third commented: “Why ought to Eileen Gu get the benefit of NBC reporting on her exploits? Let her be coated by the Chinese media virtually solely and let’s examine how effectively her model does. NBC during her competitions ought to simply point out that there’s a girl who’s clearly American competing for China.”

Another viewer questioned, “Why is @NBCSports selling Eileen Gu a lot when she selected to ski for China over the USA on the Olympics?” Gu, who was introduced up by her Chinese mom, speaks each Mandarin Chinese and English fluently. In different information, Winter Olympics athletes had been disqualified after performance-enhancing substances had been detected on their skis.