Sunisa ‘Suni’ Lee is a celebrated gymnast and for good reason. In particular, in Minnesota, the state she calls home, she is celebrated with a passion. The day she received her Olympic gold in Tokyo, it was declared Sunisa Lee Day in the state. Many fans honored her on the anniversary of the same, be it with gifts and/or heartfelt messages. She is unequivocally the next big thing, as she recently tried her hand at another iconic sport during her downtime.

Sunisa Lee has the 2024 Paris Olympics in her line of sight. Along the way, she battled an incurable kidney affliction. Lee required intensive therapeutic intervention for the same. It ensured she would have to pull out of multiple competitions and also not give her all while competing. She took a break from the stress of preparing for her next competition and went to the Williams Arena. This sabbatical proved to be a way for her to prioritise herself, which is a far cry compared to the hustle and bustle of the Olympic preparations.

Goldy the Gopher poses with Sunisa Lee and friend at the famed Williams Arena

Sunisa Lee shared a story on Instagram featuring an image from that venue. She posed for a selfie/plandid with a close friend, making a peace sign. Also in the image was Goldy Gopher, the official mascot of the University of Minnesota. The three of them were the only ones with their “eyes” away from the basketball court at that moment. Everyone else in the background was glued to the sights on the court. They were also all on their feet, though the reason behind it is presently unclear and hard to decipher from the image.

Sunisa Lee’s affliction caused her to pull out from the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships this year. She struggled through the qualifying rounds for that competition and had to withdraw. It did not take long for her to get back to the grind once more. Even so, one needs a break now and then. Lee opted for hers at the home of the Minnesota Golden Gophers and from the looks of it, she’s having a ball, pun intended.

Minnesota Golden Gophers kicked off the season with a win

The Minnesota Golden Gophers played host to the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on the basketball court. That game kicked off the season, with the Golden Gophers emerging victorious 80-60. Dawson Garcia had a standout game for the home team, recording 23 points, six assists, and 14 rebounds. While he was 4-of-10 shooting, he converted 14 of 16 free throw attempts, according to ESPN.

Read More – “Good To Be Back”: Despite Kidney Issues, Sunisa Lee Ready for Paris Olympics 2024

Sunisa Lee has four perfect scores to her name in 2023. She achieved the feat twice apiece in the balance beam and the uneven bars. According to Bleacher Report, many fans began calling her the GOAT after a pair of 10s for Auburn University against Alabama back in February. She was 19 at the time. With age on her side, if she can beat her health concerns, there is no telling how far she could go. We bid her the best of luck and godspeed for all her future overtures.

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