Nanjingers in particular are rejoicing in the victory of (Eileen) Gu Ailing at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games. And that’s because of the revelation now sweeping the Southern Capital; Gu’s grandmother is none other than a true, 100 percent, bonafide Nanjinger!
Gu became the darling of this year’s Winter Olympic Games for China by winning gold in the Women’s Freeski Big Air discipline yesterday, 8 February. In the process, she also became the youngest ever gold medalist in freestyle skiing.
And in many ways, Gu, whose father is American, has her grandmother to thank for instilling in her a competitive spirit and igniting a passion to win.
Now 85, Feng Guozhen once became semi famous herself, as a basketball player for Shanghai Jiaotong University.
Professionally, Feng was a senior engineer in the Structural Reform Department of China’s Ministry of Transport.
After her retirement, when Gu was born in San Francisco, Feng went to the USA to help take care of her granddaughter. Feng taught Gu to speak Chinese, eat Chinese food and and also told her Chinese stories.
Gu says that she is inseparable from the 85-year old in terms of the impact she has had on Gu’s heart and character. “She is healthy and invincible. She still runs one kilometre a day!”, said Gu, reports Nanjing Daily.
And when Gu herself was running, in a school competition when she was a child, Feng was there on the sidelines. She cheered Gu loudly in English; “Eileen No. 1! Eileen No. 1!”. It planted a seed in Gu’s heart; “I want to be the best”.
Gu ailing said that thanks to her grandmother, she not only found a love of sports, but also a woman’s strength and determination.
No wonder Gu, who has recently secured a place at Stanford University, also sometimes goes by the name, Eileen Feng Gu.
