Olympic champion Eileen Gu served as grand marshal of San Francisco’s annual Chinese New Year parade Saturday evening, drawing loud cheers from thousands of revelers as the city rang in the Year of the Fire Horse. Gu, who won two silver medals and one gold at the 2025 Milan-Cortina Winter Games — a haul the Associated Press reported made her the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history — appeared midway through the procession in a red dress, riding in a flower-adorned red convertible, the color a symbol of good fortune in Chinese tradition.
The San Francisco Chinese New Year parade, first organized by Chinese immigrants in the 1860s, is the oldest celebration of its kind outside Asia and one of the largest, drawing massive crowds each year along a route from downtown to Chinatown.
San Francisco’s annual Chinese New Year parade drew thousands of revelers to the streets Saturday evening, with Olympic champion Eileen Gu leading the procession as grand marshal as the city rang in the Year of the Fire Horse.
Gu, a San Francisco native who won two silver medals and one gold at the 2025 Milan-Cortina Winter Games — a haul the Associated Press reported made her the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history — appeared midway through the parade in a red dress, seated in a red convertible adorned with flowers. Red is a symbol of good fortune and prosperity in Chinese tradition.
The procession stretched from downtown to Chinatown through popping firecrackers. Children marched wearing inflatable horses while lion dancers and martial artists waved to the crowd. Drums and dancing floats celebrated the Chinese American community along the route.
“The year of the horse brings a lot of new life and energy,” said parade organizer William Gee. “She definitely represents Chinese heritage and definitely is an icon.”
Gee said Gu was selected for the role by the middle of last year — before her medal run at Milan-Cortina.
The parade traces its origins to the 1860s, when Chinese immigrants who came to work during the California Gold Rush organized the celebration to share their culture, according to the event’s website. It is described as the oldest Chinese New Year parade outside Asia and one of the largest.
Attendees voiced enthusiasm for Gu along the parade route. Vanessa Chan of neighboring South San Francisco said Gu represents “cultural infusion.”
“She’s really wonderful. … She’s funny, sunny, and she represents positivity,” Chan said.
Gu has drawn scrutiny for her decision to compete for China rather than the United States. Megan Chin, also of South San Francisco, said she felt the Olympian had been treated unfairly.
“When you’re multicultural and you want to celebrate both heritages, it’s great to be happy for someone if they want to celebrate their other heritage as well,” Chin said. “I am proud of her.”
Calvin Lui, who attended with his young son, said Gu’s connection to both San Francisco and China was a point of pride.
“That’s her identity, both countries — so she gets the best of both worlds,” Lui said.