Olympic freestyle skier Eileen Gu arrived in style for the 2026 Met Gala.
The Chinese-American freestyle skier and model, who won two silvers and a gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in February, wore a stunning short bubble dress by Iris van Herpen, a Dutch designer known for unique “tech-couture” looks that blend high fashion with innovative technology, on the red carpet Monday.
“I have 15,000 glass bubbles on me,” Gu told ESPNW of the distinct dress. “It took 2,550 hours to make. There’s technology under the dress that enables reality to kind of come together with art. It’s a play on surrealism, it’s a play on movement, it’s a play on nature, on fun, on whimsy.”
She also wore see-through heels and, aside from a small pair of earrings partially concealed by her chic, messy updo, her only accessories were dozens of bubbles floating up into the air around her.
When asked why sports are art by ESPNW, the veteran athlete simply replied, “It’s about self-expression. It’s about breaking boundaries and about being the truest version of yourself.
Gu is the most decorated free skier of all time, securing six medals in six events at the 2022 and 2026 Winter Olympics.
