Eileen Gu wins best breakthrough athlete at 2022 ESPYs, Weibo users delight after she uses Chinese, takes gran to awards
- Winter Olympian claims another title after her double gold medal winning performance in Beijing
- Gu ends acceptance speech by thanking supporters in Chinese, tells them ‘let’s add oil together’
Eileen Gu has taken home another title, this time being named the best breakthrough athlete at the 2022 ESPYs, and added to her status on both sides of the world with an acceptance speech that ended in Chinese.
The Winter Olympian was honoured at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Wednesday night (US time) alongside some of the biggest names in sport, and took her grandmother with her to share the occasion.
In her speech after being handed the award, Gu thanked “all the women” who had gone before her, and dedicated it those who would follow. After thanking her mum and her gran, she then ended by speaking in Chinese, saying: “In the end I want to thank all the people who support me - let’s add oil together.”
At a glittering event hosted by Steph Curry, the Golden State Warriors point guard, Gu was lauded for her performance representing China at the Beijing Games earlier this year.
The 18-year-old won three medals at the Olympics, with golds in the freeski big air and freeski half-pipe, and silver in slopestyle.
Weibo users were delighted by her use of Chinese at a ceremony that was broadcast on ABC and ESPN, with many sending their congratulations, and posting pictures of her with her grandmother.
