Olympic Star Eileen Gu to Lead SF Chinese New Year Parade

A homegrown Olympic champion is coming home to lead one of San Francisco's most beloved traditions.

Freestyle skier Eileen Gu, 22, will serve as grand marshal of the 2026 San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade on March 7. The San Francisco native won two gold medals and one silver at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, making her one of the sport's brightest stars.

"We are very lucky to have Eileen Gu joining us," said parade director Tony Lau. "She's not only a big star but also has strong Bay Area community ties, and she has attended the parade before."

Gu grew up in San Francisco, attending Katherine Delmar Burke School and San Francisco University High School before heading to Stanford University. Now with millions of social media followers, she's become a fashion icon and global influencer while staying connected to her hometown.

The timing works perfectly for Gu, who will compete at the Winter Olympics in Italy next month before returning to the Bay Area. The parade caps off what promises to be an exciting winter season for the young athlete.

The Ripple Effect

The parade is just one highlight of a month-long celebration organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Events begin with the Flower Market Fair on February 14-15, followed by Choy Sun Doy Day on February 17, which marks Lunar New Year's Day itself.

The festivities continue with a basketball jamboree on February 28, the Miss Chinatown USA pageant on March 6, and the Community Street Fair on March 7-8. Each event brings together thousands of Bay Area residents to celebrate culture, community, and connection.

Recent years have seen Hollywood stars like Awkwafina, Daniel Wu, and Joan Chen leading the parade. This year brings it back to local roots with a San Francisco native who's achieved international success while maintaining deep ties to the community that raised her.

Chinatown community leader and former parade director Harlan Wong will serve as honorary marshal alongside Gu. Together, they represent both the neighborhood's established leadership and its next generation of global ambassadors.

For Gu, the honor means representing the place where her journey began, bringing Olympic glory back to the streets that shaped her dreams.