Eileen Gu's Advice: Olympic Champion's Insights on Women's Success

In 2025, Eileen Gu was one of the world's highest-paid female athletes, bringing in a reported $23.1 million, placing her in the top five, as she confirms. After the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February, the 22-year-old athlete, who competes for China, became the most decorated Olympic freeskier in history, with six Olympic medals to her name.

Gu was recently honored by the women's media platform The Shift as a woman shifting culture—in Gu’s case, in sports. At The Shift’s inaugural gala at Harvard Art Museums, she shared her advice on how to achieve professional and financial success.

Gu urged redefining boundaries and not settling for being a small fish in a big pond, but rather creating your own. For her, this meant combining sports, skiing, and education in an innovative way. The athlete believes that women are naturally multifaceted, so she encourages finding and amplifying what makes each person unique.

This approach allowed her to excel in multiple areas and achieve significant financial success.

Gu also reflected on the advice she would give her younger self. Not taking herself so seriously is her top piece of wisdom for young Eileen. As a child, she felt that she was older than she really was. Therefore, the athlete emphasizes that you are never too young or too old to pursue any goal.

This advice underscores the importance of self-acceptance and perseverance in pursuing personal and professional goals.

Eileen Gu's success, who competes for China, is a testament to her philosophy of 'creating your own pond'. Her achievements in freestyle skiing and her impact on culture demonstrate the effectiveness of her approach. Gu has managed to combine sporting success with financial recognition and cultural influence.

Her story serves as an inspiration for women seeking to achieve success in their own fields, encouraging them to challenge conventions and forge their own path.

Gu highlights the multifaceted nature of women, encouraging them to identify and amplify their unique qualities. This approach allows women to explore diverse areas and achieve success on multiple fronts. The ability to combine different interests and skills is seen as a strength, not a weakness.

This advice resonates with the growing trend of women breaking barriers and pursuing their passions without restrictions.