LIVIGNO, Italy -- Even if she's not outwardly courting controversy, it always seems to find her. Eileen Gu is 22 years old, competing in her second Olympic Games, so often at the center of a storm.

LIVIGNO, ITALY - FEBRUARY 16: Gold medalist Megan Oldham of Team Canada, Silver medalist Ailing Eileen Gu of Team People's Republic of China and Bronze medalist Flora Tabanelli of Team Italy pose for a photo during the medal ceremony for the Women's Freeski Big Air on day ten of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Livigno Snow Park on February 16, 2026 in Livigno, Italy.

LIVIGNO, Italy -- A beaming Eileen Gu had finished a row of interviews, silver medal around her neck, where a throng of Olympic volunteers were waiting to ask her for a group selfie.