Eileen Gu, the American skier who made headlines for choosing to represent China at the 2022 Winter Olympics, has suffered a serious injury during training in New Zealand. On Friday, Gu was involved in a very terrible accident, according to reports from the South China Morning Post. Just months after recovering from another injury at the Winter X Games, she was hospitalized in Christchurch for medical imaging following the incident. Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with Gu being transported from the site on a stretcher.
In a statement on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, Gu addressed the incident: \”Unfortunately, a very terrible accident occurred yesterday due to human error. I hope I can return to the snow soon, but I’m still waiting for confirmation from the expert team.\” The exact nature and severity of her injury have not been made public.
Gu has voiced concerns about safety during training, particularly regarding distractions. \”I have to concentrate fully during training, especially when I am preparing to start,\” she stated. \”It’s very dangerous to be interrupted.\” She emphasized her commitment to the sport, revealing her intense focus: \”In order to save time, I don’t have lunch breaks and try to use the bathroom as little as possible. So please don’t record or take photos while I’m training.\”
This incident comes on the heels of Gu’s controversial decision in 2019 to compete for China rather than the United States, a choice that ignited debates across social media. Having since achieved significant success, Gu won two gold medals while representing China in the Olympics. Now, she faces an uphill battle again as she hopes for a swift recovery and a return to competition on the slopes.
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