Over the course of 2024, Suni Lee has caught the headlines and turned heads multiple times. She, of course, turned heads at the Paris Olympics with her team gold and two bronzes. But then came her multiple-brand deals! One of the most recent ones is her association with Lululemon. Now, as the season ends, Lee has taken a detour to a new arena!

This time, it’s not on the podium, but instead, it is a step into the world of fashion. Suni Lee is the newest addition from the world of gymnastics to join the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit photoshoot. However, she is not the first. She joins the Louisiana State University favorite Olivia Dunne. It was only last year that Dunne was in her rookie SI shoot. The pictures saw her in Portugal, where she posed against scenic backdrops. It soon became a celebrated shoot! The expectations are rather high from Lee!

However, SI Swimsuit editor-in-chief MJ Day sounds very optimistic about Lee joining, saying, “We are thrilled to launch our shoot season for the 2025 issue with an extraordinary lineup of powerful female athletes.” Lee is sure both those things are extraordinary and undoubtedly powerful! And guess what? Lee has already put on her preparation outfit!

Lee is, in fact, now in Boca Raton, Florida, preparing for the shoot! However, this shoot is not just about pretty places and nice backdrops this time. SI’s Editor-in-Chief seems to have a larger vision. As MJ Day puts it, “This remarkable group, featuring Olympic medalists… They defy stereotypes and champion equality, inspiring young girls to envision themselves as both athletes and leaders.” Way to go, Suni Lee! Lee is, in fact, unknowingly walking into a rare moment of history.

Lee joins the queens of gymnastics on the new adventure!

While Suni Lee might be taking a detour, there are the gymnastic foremothers who came before her. In fact, one of them was on her Olympic team! In 2017, Simone Biles also posed for the SI Swimsuit photoshoot. And she wasn’t alone either. She was joined by the three-time Olympic champion Aly Raisman. Now, that shoot was more than a visual treat!

It was a statement that paved the way for Lee and Dunne. So, how exactly did it become so symbolic? Well, when two champions come together, history takes a bow. After the shoot, both Biles and Raisman went on to talk about what the shoot meant to them. It was a moment of reclamation for both queens. Biles went on to talk about how she was called “fat” by a coach, and her gymnastics team has also been pretty to the watchful eye online. Now, this is where it gets better!

After the shoot, both Biles took it to Instagram and wrote, “No matter what anyone tells you, have confidence in your own body.” Echoing the message, Raisman went on to write, “It is 2017, and there is NO perfect or ideal body type.” It turned into a powerful moment for gymnasts and athletes around the world. So much so that Simone Biles returned in 2019.

This time, Biles was in sun-soaked Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Yet again, here, too, Biles decided to take the opportunity to shift focus to how athleticism and beauty coexist in all shapes and sizes. Now, the baton has been passed, and it is time for Suni Lee to take the reins of an iconic lineage.