So Low! US Official Mockery Backfires as Eileen Gu Wins Gold for China

The official account of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee sparked controversy with a targeted online response to China’s Olympic achievements.

At the Milan Winter Olympics, China won 5 golds, 4 silvers, and 6 bronzes, setting a historical record for overseas competition and matching their total medal count from the Beijing Winter Olympics. The Chinese Olympic Committee shared a congratulatory graphic highlighting all medalists, including Su Yiming, Eileen Gu, Ning Zhongyan, Xu Mengtao, and Wang Xindi.

However, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee singled out the Chinese Olympic account and posted a five-panel cartoon. The first four panels show a Chinese athlete winning gold, biting the medal, popping champagne, and celebrating exuberantly. In the fifth panel, the athlete is celebrating in ninth place, while the top eight turn to watch, implying: “You’ve been celebrating, but you’re only ninth. Our golds surpass yours, yet you flaunt it more.”

Ironically, the cartoon contained a factual error: China was actually 12th in the medal standings, behind Japan and Canada, which the US account completely ignored.

This act reflects a provocative and condescending tone, yet it backfired. Eileen Gu’s gold victory for China not only countered the mockery but also turned the US’s “joke” into a viral point of debate.