Tuesday, March 10, 2026-Olympic freestyle skiing star Eileen Gu received a warm reception in her hometown of San Francisco as she served as grand marshal of the city’s annual Chinese New Year Parade San Francisco. Despite past criticism over her decision to compete for China instead of the United States in international competitions, crowds along the parade route greeted her with cheers and enthusiastic support.
Gu, dressed in red—a color symbolizing luck and prosperity for the holiday—rode through the celebration in a red convertible as spectators raised phones and waved from packed sidewalks. Many attendees described her as a hometown hero and praised her multicultural identity, saying she represents both her San Francisco roots and Chinese heritage.
The skier has faced political criticism in the past for representing China, her mother’s homeland, especially during periods of heightened U.S.–China tensions. But at the parade celebrating the Lunar New Year, those controversies appeared absent. Instead, the crowd celebrated Gu as a global sports star and a symbol of the city’s diverse community.
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