Eileen Gu, one of the world’s top freeskiers and a global fashion icon, continues to captivate both sports and pop culture fans. In 2024, she was ranked the second-highest paid female athlete by Sportico, thanks to major sponsorship deals with brands like Porsche, Red Bull, and Louis Vuitton.
Her influence extends beyond skiing and fashion. Recently, POWDER reported on Gu’s appearance in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, where she became only the third skier ever featured in the iconic magazine.
Now, Gu has once again made headlines—this time with a series of star-studded selfies on Instagram. The 21-year-old Olympic champion posted a carousel of images that included snapshots with actor Tom Cruise and basketball legend LeBron James.
Gu met Cruise at the premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and later crossed paths with James at the 20th Annual Hammer Museum Gala on May 17, 2025. Interestingly, those celebrity encounters weren’t even the highlight of her post—she buried them among several other lifestyle shots, proving just how effortlessly cool she has become.
Alongside the celebrity selfies, Gu included photos from a recent rock climbing trip, a relaxing desert vacation, a wake surfing session on a scenic lake, a glamorous selfie, and even a playful picture of her cat. These behind-the-scenes looks at her life have become a signature feature of her Instagram feed, where she has amassed more than 2 million followers.
While Gu’s recent content has focused on travel, events, and her personal life, her return to skiing isn’t far off. As the reigning Olympic gold medalist in Big Air and Halfpipe—and silver medalist in Slopestyle—she is gearing up for a major comeback ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
Last season, Gu dealt with a few minor injuries but still managed to secure several victories on the World Cup circuit. Most notably, her Halfpipe win at Copper Mountain in December 2024 marked her 17th World Cup win, making her the most successful athlete in FIS Freestyle World Cup history.
With the new season beginning in November, fans can expect to see Gu back in competitive form—and likely back on the podium—as she prepares for another Olympic run.