Suni Lee

Suni Lee News: U.S. Gymnast Poised for Olympic All-Around Final in Paris

American gymnast Suni Lee is set to make history in the Olympic all-around final on Thursday in Paris, alongside her illustrious teammate Simone Biles.

Just two days after helping Team USA secure gold in the team competition against Italy and Brazil, Lee will aim to defend her all-around title from the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The competition is particularly historic, as it marks the first time two former all-around Olympic champions—Lee and Biles—compete against one another in an Olympic final. Biles previously claimed the all-around gold in 2016.

Currently ranked third after the qualifying round with 56.132 points, Lee trails behind leader Biles and Brazil’s Rebecca Andrade.

An American gymnast has dominated the all-around title in the past five Olympic Games, with Carly Patterson, Nastia Liukin, and Gabby Douglas also contributing to this streak.

The all-around final is scheduled to begin at 12:15 PM ET and will be broadcast on NBC. Viewers can also catch enhanced coverage via Peacock’s multi-view streaming feature, offering fans a comprehensive look at their favorite athletes and sports during the Games.

Who Is Suni Lee?

Suni Lee rose to international fame at the Tokyo Olympics, where she became the fifth consecutive American woman to win the all-around gymnastics title. In doing so, she also became the first Asian American gymnast to achieve this feat. Alongside her gold medal, Lee secured two additional medals, cementing her place in gymnastics history.

Hailing from Minnesota, Lee competed at the collegiate level for Auburn University, where she balanced elite gymnastics with academic commitments. Her career faced a major challenge in April 2023 when she was diagnosed with two kidney-related illnesses. However, through rigorous treatment and physical therapy, Lee made a remarkable recovery, earning her spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Now 21, Lee is ready to showcase her resilience and skill on the world stage once again.

Early Life of Sunisa “Suni” Lee

Sunisa “Suni” Lee, born Sunisa Phabsomphou on March 9, 2003, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, is a celebrated American gymnast of Hmong descent. Her name was inspired by her mother’s favorite Thai soap opera actor. Lee’s mother, Yeev Thoj, emigrated from Laos to the United States in 1987. While the identity of Suni’s biological father has not been disclosed, John Lee, also a Laotian immigrant, entered her life when she was two years old. John has been a constant parental figure for Suni, who adopted his surname during her teenage years. Though John and Yeev are not married, they share a long-term partnership and have three children together: Evionn, Lucky, and Noah. Additionally, John has two children, Shyenne and Jonah, from a previous marriage.

In 2019, John experienced a life-altering accident when he fell off a ladder while trimming a neighbor’s tree. The fall left him paralyzed from the chest down. Despite the challenges, John remains resilient and continues to recover, using a wheelchair while working towards regaining mobility. Reflecting on his journey, he shared with ESPN in 2021, “Before my injury, I was active and athletic. I can’t do any of that now, and it’s hard. But when I get so angry at myself, I look at Sunisa and think about what she has had to go through to get to where she’s at, and she inspires me.”

Suni’s athletic journey was nurtured by her parents’ encouragement and support. With boundless energy as a child, she was introduced to gymnastics when a family friend noticed her somersaults at a park and suggested enrolling her in a beginner’s class. To further her practice, John built a wooden balance beam in their backyard.

At the age of six, Suni began formal training at Midwest Gymnastics in Little Canada, Minnesota. She quickly excelled, winning a state meet by age seven in just her second competition. By 11, Suni qualified for the elite tier of the USA Gymnastics Women’s Development Program, which opened doors for international representation. Her rapid ascent continued, and by age 14, she secured a spot on the U.S. Junior National Team in 2017, solidifying her status as a rising star in the world of gymnastics.

2020 Olympic Champion and Collegiate Career

Early Success and International Debut

Sunisa Lee, widely recognized for her extraordinary achievements in gymnastics, first gained attention at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in August 2018. She secured third place in the junior women’s all-around and clinched gold on the junior uneven bars. Her exceptional performance earned her a place on the senior team, where she made her international debut at the 2019 City of Jesolo Trophy in Italy.

2020 Tokyo Olympics

Lee appeared poised to contend for a spot at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. However, her Olympic aspirations were delayed as the Games were postponed to July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, she placed second in the all-around competition behind defending Olympic champion Simone Biles, securing her position on Team USA.

While Lee was initially seen as a contender for a podium finish rather than a gold medalist, her role shifted dramatically during the Tokyo Olympics. When Simone Biles withdrew from most event finals due to “the twisties”—a condition where a gymnast’s mind and body lose synchronicity—Lee stepped into the spotlight. Reflecting on the unexpected opportunity, Lee told Time: “We were all coming in to compete for second place… I just had to switch gears.”

Lee’s standout performance, particularly her highly challenging uneven bars routine, helped her edge out Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade to claim the all-around gold medal. At just 18 years old, she became the fifth consecutive American to win the title, joining the ranks of Carly Patterson, Nastia Liukin, Gabby Douglas, and Simone Biles. Notably, she also became the first Asian American gymnast to win the Olympic all-around gold. In addition to her historic win, Lee contributed to the U.S. team’s silver medal and secured a bronze medal on the uneven bars. For her remarkable accomplishments, Sports Illustrated named her one of its Athletes of the Year in 2021.

NCAA Career at Auburn

Transition to College Gymnastics

Shortly after her Olympic triumph, Lee began a new chapter at Auburn University in August 2021, where she became the first Olympic all-around champion to compete collegiately. Balancing the pressures of her Olympic legacy with the desire for a normal teenage experience, Lee joined Auburn’s gymnastics team while pursuing her studies.

Lee made an impressive collegiate debut in January 2022, earning eight All-America honors during the season. At the 2022 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships, she claimed an individual title on the balance beam with a score of 9.9625 and finished as the all-around runner-up to Trinity Thomas from the University of Florida.

Challenges and Setbacks

Despite her competitive success, Lee struggled with mental health challenges. She revealed experiencing “imposter syndrome” following her Olympic victory, doubting her worthiness of the gold medal compared to her teammate Biles. Speaking to ESPN, she admitted, “It was very hard for me to motivate myself the first couple of weeks here because it was like I didn’t want to do gymnastics. I hated it.”

Her college experience was further complicated by personal and social difficulties. According to Sports Illustrated, Lee faced stalking incidents on campus, leading her to attend virtual classes for safety reasons. Additionally, she reported feeling isolated from her teammates, describing a lack of trust and camaraderie within the team.

In 2023, Lee planned to leave Auburn’s gymnastics program to focus on preparing for the 2024 Olympics. However, her season was cut short by a health scare that forced her to withdraw from competition and placed her future in gymnastics in jeopardy. Despite these challenges, Lee’s resilience and determination continue to inspire fans and aspiring gymnasts worldwide.

Kidney Disease and Remarkable Comeback

In February 2023, Lee faced alarming health challenges, including swelling throughout her body—most notably in her ankles, face, hands, and legs—accompanied by nausea and lightheadedness. “I could not bend my legs the slightest, I couldn’t squeeze my fingers,” she shared, recounting her struggles as she retained up to 45 pounds of water weight. “I looked like a completely different person.”

By April, Lee stepped away from the Auburn gymnastics team, citing “a non-gymnastics related health issue.” Medical evaluations revealed she had an incurable kidney disease manifesting in two forms, prompting her return to Minnesota to focus on recovery.

Despite her diagnosis, Lee remained determined to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics. She began physical therapy, started medication, and adjusted her training regimen to manage her symptoms. Her perseverance paid off, as she returned to competition at the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, earning a bronze medal on the balance beam.

In January 2024, Lee received encouraging news from her doctors: her condition had improved enough to gradually reduce her medication. By April, her kidney disease was in remission, rekindling her Olympic aspirations.

A Triumphant Return: The 2024 Paris Olympics

Resuming full training, Lee set her sights on the 2024 Summer Games, but her journey required a strong performance at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in June. Rising to the occasion, she claimed first place on the uneven bars and secured second in the all-around standings, trailing only Simone Biles. Her efforts earned her a coveted spot on the five-member Olympic team.

Determined not only to defend her individual Olympic title but also to help the U.S. reclaim team gold after their second-place finish in Tokyo, Lee approached the competition with renewed vigor. “This is the same team, basically, as 2020, so it’s kind of like a redemption tour,” she said.

The U.S. team delivered an exceptional performance, posting the top score in qualifying thanks to contributions from Lee and Biles. During the team final, Lee tied the day’s best balance beam score of 14.600, helping the U.S. edge out Italy to secure the program’s fourth team gold medal.

Media Presence, Fashion Ventures, and Personal Life

Lee’s success in gymnastics has opened doors to a variety of media and business opportunities. She was featured in the 2021 Peacock docuseries Golden: The Journey of USA’s Elite Gymnasts, chronicling the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics. Beyond the mat, she has made her mark in fashion, designing training leotards for GK Elite and launching an athleisure collection with the British brand PrettyLittleThing.

In 2021, Lee competed in the 30th season of Dancing with the Stars, advancing to the semifinals and finishing in fifth place. However, her time in Los Angeles was marred by a racially motivated attack, during which she was pepper-sprayed in October 2021.

In January 2022, Lee publicly addressed hateful messages she received from some within the Hmong community regarding her relationship with Jaylin Smith, a Black football player at the University of Southern California. The current status of their relationship remains undisclosed.

Through personal and professional highs and lows, Lee’s resilience and achievements continue to inspire, solidifying her legacy as a formidable athlete and cultural icon.