There’s representing your heritage.
And then there’s turning your back on the country that raised you.
Eileen Gu was born in the United States. She was educated here. She trained here. She benefited from the freedoms, infrastructure, coaching systems, and opportunities that only America provides.
And when it came time to stand on the Olympic stage, she chose to represent Communist China.
Not once — but twice.
Now, a Republican lawmaker says that choice shouldn’t come without consequences.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) has introduced legislation that would impose a tax on income earned by American athletes who compete in international sporting events on behalf of foreign governments defined as “foreign entities of concern.” Those countries include China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
The proposal is titled the “Officially Limiting Yearly Money Procured by Individuals Concerning Sportsmanship Act,” or OLYMPICS Act.
The legislation would not apply retroactively. But Ogles made it clear who inspired the bill.
Gu, an American-born freestyle skier, won a gold medal and two silver medals while competing for China at the recent Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. She also represented Beijing during the 2022 Games.
Her decision sparked widespread criticism in the United States.
“Any American who works with a foreign adversary has not only betrayed our country, but must be stripped of all benefits from doing so. That is why I am ensuring that the IRS takes every dollar earned by athletes like Eileen Gu,” Ogles said.
That’s not subtle.
And it reflects growing frustration over a larger issue: American citizens leveraging U.S.-built talent pipelines, then switching flags when the financial incentives are better.
China awards prize money to Olympic medalists, though CNBC reports it is unclear how much they earn. What is clear is that Gu’s endorsements and sponsorship deals in China have been substantial.
Ogles added that the bill would impose an excise tax on athletes who compete internationally for “a foreign country of concern.”
“Being American is a privilege, and anyone who openly mocks that privilege on the world stage must be punished,” he continued.
Vice President JD Vance weighed in last week on Fox News, framing the issue in cultural rather than financial terms.
“Someone who grew up in the United States of America, who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that makes this country a great place, I would hope they want to compete with the United States of America,” Vance said.
Gu was raised in the United States by her mother, who immigrated from China.
That background makes her choice more complicated — but also more symbolic.
The question now isn’t whether athletes have the right to compete for other nations.
It’s whether American citizenship — and all the opportunity that comes with it — should carry expectations of loyalty when the stakes involve adversarial governments.
Congress is now moving to answer that question in dollars.
Because for some lawmakers, if you choose to wear the colors of a foreign adversary, you shouldn’t keep the financial benefits of the country you left behind.
