Meet the Stanford genius who modeled for Victoria’s Secret and won Olympic gold (ft. Eileen Gu)

Olympic gold, Ivy League brains, supermodel looks—and still figuring it out. In this episode of The Burnouts, Olympic gold medalist, model, and Stanford student Eileen Gu joins Phoebe and Sophia for an unfiltered conversation about ambition, identity, and what happens after you’ve seemingly “made it.” Eileen opens up about her post-Olympic burnout, learning to sit with stillness after injury, and the pressure of being young, female, and hyper-visible on the world stage. From negotiating brand deals at 13 to being grilled about geopolitics at 18, she reflects on the emotional toll of public scrutiny—and the freedom of learning to define success on her own terms. She also shares how fashion gave her a new language for femininity, what solo travel taught her about self-worth, and why she’ll never apologize for being “the nerd who does everyone’s homework.” Also: the difference between a high-quality man and a fragile ego. 🕯️✨ USE CODE "BURNOUTS15" FOR 15% OFF YOUR ORDER ON OUR LIMITED-EDITION PHLUR X THE BURNOUTS CANDLE ✨🕯️ CHAPTERS 2:10 – Post-Olympic depression is real 4:45 – How she accidentally went pro 6:55 – Negotiating for yourself, even if you're scared 10:40 – Walking Victoria’s Secret and staying true to your values 13:15 – Becoming a cultural bridge—not picking a side 17:35 – Why smart women scare fragile men 26:00 – Glorifying suffering is not a flex 28:55 – Nerd alert: physics made her a better skier 35:40 – Injury, identity, and learning to rest FOLLOW US Phoebe Gates Sophia Kianni Eileen Gu FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS Instagram TikTok LinkedIn 📲 Download the Phia app to start saving money: www.phia.com Subscribe to The Burnouts for bold, raw interviews with the thinkers, athletes, and founders redefining ambition. Hosted by Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni—former Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders—each episode dives into the unpolished truths of building a life and career that matters. This isn’t another founder podcast. It’s what building something in your 20s actually sounds like—unfiltered, in-progress, and a little bit chaotic. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.