U.S. Olympic gymnast Suni Lee has her sights set on making a splash in the all-around competition at this year’s U.S. Gymnastics Championships.

“I think this year I’m focusing more on proving it to myself and also just getting back in the all-around,” Lee said. “I haven’t competed in the all-around competition since college. That’s a whole different kind of thing than elite gymnastics. I’m just excited to get back out there.”

The 20-year-old Minnesota native is no stranger to elite competition, having been a member of the U.S. national team for seven years. “It’s just a really big competition, but it’s also fun for us because we grew up going to camps together competing against each other, so we kind of know how each other’s work ethics are,” she explained. “It’s just amazing to see everybody out there.”

In addition to her athletic endeavors, Lee has embraced her role as an inspirational Asian American public figure, which has become increasingly meaningful over the past few years.

“When I was growing up you don’t really realize until after the fact,” she reflected. “Now that having younger women, not even just younger athletes but other people older than me, coming up to me saying I inspire them is something that’s so cool because I just love to do gymnastics.”

Lee became a household name at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she won the coveted all-around gold, a bronze medal on the uneven bars and a silver medal in the team competition. Born to Hmong-American parents, she was the first Hmong-American Olympic gymnast. 

Since her Olympic success, Lee has been balancing her gymnastics training with public appearances, sponsorship deals, and her studies at Auburn University. Despite the demands on her time, she remains focused on her goal of reclaiming the all-around title at the U.S. Championships.

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