GOP Lawmaker Proposes Tax on Athletes Competing for Foreign Entities, Citing Eileen Gu

As tensions between the United States and China intensify, the battle lines are extending beyond trade and military power and into the Olympic arena. A Republican congressman is now pushing legislation that would tax American athletes who choose to compete for foreign adversaries like China.

Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee has introduced the “Officially Limiting Yearly Money Procured by Individuals Concerning Sportsmanship Act,” or OLYMPICS Act. The proposal would impose an excise tax on income earned by American athletes who represent what the bill defines as “foreign entities of concern,” including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

The measure comes amid growing scrutiny of athletes who leverage American training and opportunity, only to compete under the flag of geopolitical rivals.

At the center of the debate is the American-born freestyle skier who won a gold medal and two silver medals while competing for China at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. She also represented China at the 2022 Beijing Games, drawing sharp criticism from Americans who viewed the move as symbolic alignment with the Chinese Communist Party.

Gu was raised in the United States and benefited from American training infrastructure before choosing to ski for China, her mother’s native country.

Ogles cited her case directly when introducing the OLYMPICS Act.

“Any American who works with a foreign adversary has not only betrayed our country, but must be stripped of all benefits from doing so,” he said, arguing that athletes who represent hostile regimes should not profit without consequence.

The proposed tax would not apply retroactively, but it would target future income earned from representing designated foreign entities of concern.

The broader context matters. According to the U.S. State Department, China is America’s primary geopolitical competitor, with escalating tensions over Taiwan, intellectual property theft, and military expansion in the Indo-Pacific. Meanwhile, Russia remains under sweeping U.S. sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine, and both Iran and North Korea continue to face sanctions related to terrorism and nuclear proliferation.

The United States already taxes worldwide income of American citizens, regardless of where they reside. The OLYMPICS Act would layer an additional excise tax specifically aimed at athletes who compete internationally on behalf of adversarial governments.

Supporters argue this is about more than sports:

• China reportedly awards substantial prize money and endorsement opportunities to Olympic medalists.

• American taxpayers help fund elite training programs, collegiate athletics, and youth development systems that produce world-class competitors.

• Olympic representation carries symbolic weight in global politics, particularly during periods of heightened international rivalry.

Vice President JD Vance recently weighed in, stating that athletes who grow up benefiting from American freedoms and educational opportunities should want to compete for the United States.

Critics of the proposal argue that athletes should be free to choose which country they represent, especially if they hold dual citizenship or have family ties abroad. They contend that government punishment for such decisions sets a troubling precedent.

Supporters counter that citizenship is not merely transactional. They argue that representing a foreign adversary on the world stage particularly regimes that openly oppose U.S. interests crosses a line.

In an era when sports, culture, and politics are increasingly intertwined, the question is no longer hypothetical. International competition has become another front in the contest between democratic governance and authoritarian power.

The OLYMPICS Act signals that some lawmakers believe it is time to draw firmer boundaries. Whether Congress ultimately advances the bill remains to be seen, but the debate has already reignited broader conversations about loyalty, citizenship, and the meaning of representing the United States abroad.

As geopolitical tensions continue to rise, even the Olympic podium is no longer insulated from political consequence.

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