Sunisa Lee arrived at the Tokyo Olympics — an already unprecedented spotlight after the event languished in pandemic-postponement last year — as the first Hmong-American to secure a spot with Team USA. Now, Lee’s legacy will be leaving the international Games a little bit more historic than when it arrived. On Thursday, the 18-year-old won gold in the gymnastics’ individual all-around competition as the first Hmong-American to ever clinch such victory.
Scoring a 57.433, Lee landed triumphantly ahead of Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade in second and the Russia’s Angelina Melnikova in third. Lee’s landmark performance also continues the USA winning streak in the competition as the fifth all-around Olympic gold.
Earlier this week, Lee lunged into the spotlight when Simone Biles withdrew from the women’s team finals. After a faulty vault landing, the gymnastic superstar exited the competition and remained transparent about how the pressures of the arena intensified her bouts with her mental health. Lee, replacing Biles, leaped out her comfort zone to compete with a floor routine that she hadn’t warmed up ahead of the meet.
“I went out on that floor, and I just chucked every single thing,” Lee, who specializes primarily in uneven bars, said to Star Tribune. “When I had to go out there and do it, I just needed to do what I do.”
Most of all, Lee’s ascent to the Olympic stage is beacon of resilience and representation for one of America’s forgotten communities. In the glint of luck, Lee was able to vault the figurative (and literal) barriers ahead to achieve her dreams as their biggest star ever.
