US-born teen gunning for Olympic gold captivates China

Filepic of Gu who is one of the biggest stars in the 2022 Winter Olympic Games that will be held in Beijing this week. Photo: Maddie Meyer/ AFP

Eileen Gu is just 18, a grade-A student and has set new standards in freestyle skiing – no wonder there is a frenzy around her in China ahead of this week's Beijing Olympics.

Gu looks poised to be the face of the Winter Games in the Chinese capital and expectations are sky-high.