Feb 8 was Gu Ailing's day, when she won gold in the women's freestyle skiing big air event at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Gu made history that day, as it was her first time at the Olympics. It was also the first time a Chinese athlete participated in the contest and struck gold.
She was expectedly trending on social networking sites.
Yet, the gold medal is not the only reason behind Gu's increasing popularity. After the first two rounds, Gu was trailing far behind her French competitor Tess Ledeux. However, she strove hard and made it in her last jump. Besides, when she got gold and Ledeux got silver, Gu was graceful enough to hug the latter in a tight embrace. In interviews after the contest, Gu said she participated in the Winter Olympics not to defeat her rivals but to do her best.
What really helped her win so many hearts was her reaction to difficult queries on Twitter and Facebook, where some asked why she competed for China when she grew up in the United States. She was subjected to similar queries in news conferences before and after the contest, but she breezed through them. Sample some of her answers. "I feel just as American as Chinese. I don't feel I'm taking advantage of one or another. They understand that my mission is to foster a connection between countries and not be a divisive force."
Gu came across as not just another athlete, but a woman with a warm heart and an open mind. Her virtues, namely fearlessness, confidence and openness, helped her resonate with audiences on both sides of the Pacific. Maybe those shooting questions at her should learn a little from her.
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