Olympians Defend Athletes' Right to Choose Their Country

When US Air Force Staff Sergeant Kelly Curtis was asked about Eileen Gu competing for China, her answer was simple: respect the talent, skip the judgment.

Curtis, a veteran skeleton athlete representing Team USA in Milan Cortina, says she hasn't overthought Gu's decision to ski for China instead of America. "She is the most decorated freestyle skier, so she's at the top of her run, and I have nothing but respect for her," Curtis told reporters.

She's not alone in defending athletes' freedom to choose. AJ Edelman, an American who grew up in New England, captains Israel's bobsled team and competed in skeleton for Israel in 2022.

Edelman has never considered representing the US over Israel, despite being a proud American. When critics questioned Gu's choice, he pushed back hard.

"Every single athlete has a different athletic journey," Edelman explained. "I think it is incredibly inappropriate for anyone to demand service of someone in sport for any particular reason that is not of that athlete's own will."

Edelman compared the situation to his own path. He chose Israel because he wanted to make an impact in a specific community, sacrificing financial security to lead the Israeli bobsled team for 13 years.

His commitment came at a cost. Edelman lived below the poverty line and sold all his bitcoin to fund his Olympic dream, cryptocurrency that would be worth millions today.

Gu's situation looks different financially. She's the highest-paid Winter Olympic athlete in the world, earning an estimated $23 million in 2025 through partnerships with Chinese and Western companies.

Why This Inspires

Beyond the debate about money and politics, these athletes are championing something deeper: the right to choose your own path without judgment.

Curtis and Edelman represent different Olympic journeys, one staying with Team USA, the other choosing Israel. Yet both agree that personal choice in sports deserves protection and respect.

Their stance reminds us that behind every controversy are individual athletes making personal decisions about identity, family, and belonging. Edelman frames it simply: "Any athlete is free to choose the athletic path that they take, and I'm going to respect that."

In a world quick to judge, these Olympians are modeling something we could all use more of: grace for different choices and respect for personal journeys.