Sunisa “Suni” Lee, born Sunisa Phabsomphou on March 9th, 2003, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, has a deep family history. She is the child of dedicated healthcare worker Yeev Thoj and John Lee. Her mother emigrated from the small town of Big Bend in Laos at the age of 13. Suni, who was also raised by John Lee—the father to her three half-siblings from another relationship—found her passion for gymnastics early on. At just six years old, she was inspired by Olympic stars Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson through YouTube videos.

That home-grown love was fostered within her own four walls, where a makeshift balance beam built by her dad using a mattress laid the foundations for an incredibly successful gymnastic journey. On that note, her father John even said on TODAY “She goes to the gym, and she practices, but we don’t have a beam here,” John divulged. “So, I couldn’t afford a real beam, so I built her one. That beam is still here.” That homemade beam not only helped her but was a sign of John’s unwavering support for his young budding gymnast, Suni, laying the groundwork for where she is today.

Sunisa Lee: Early inspiration and swift rise in gymnastics

The story of Sunisa Lee — where she comes from, what drives her, and who trains her — defines both remarkable talents as well as hours upon hours dedicated to becoming an elite gymnast. She got her start in gymnastics at Midwest Gymnastics Center in Little Canada, Minnesota under coach Punnarith Koy. She proved to be an adept competitor early on, showcasing her talent in her first few matches. Lee’s talent was obvious when she claimed the all-around crown on her second meet as a freshman at state, an early hint of what kind of future lay ahead.

At the age of eight, she had moved up three levels in just four years demonstrating how quickly and proficiently she was progressing. By the age of eleven, Lee had already hit a big milestone when she qualified for elite-level gymnastics and her future success in the sport was beginning to take form. At age 12, Lee moved on to being coached by Jess Graba after having trained under Punnarith Koy. It marked a change in the training ground for her and she continued to hone her skills, at this level as well. This foundation has helped her become one of the elite gymnasts in the country.

Suni Lee’s rise from junior elite to college star and international debut

Gymnastics has already been about numerous firsts for Sunisa Lee in her still-young career. Lee’s potential was unmistakable after competing in the Hopes division in 2015, and she quickly rose to junior elite status by 2016. She started the concept of her individual by competing at the 2016 U.S. Classic and got selected for the junior national team in the year 2017 because she showed several captivating elements over there during her performance’s debut on stage when just fifteen years old! 

Lee also made her mark internationally with a second-place uneven bars finish at the Gymnix International Junior Cup, solidifying an international presence. She made headlines announcing her verbal commitment to Auburn University for a gymnastics scholarship and an exciting few months lie ahead for Lee. She reported to WSJ that, “I know I am set to going college because that just been another one of my dreams”. She further reported in The New York Times, “And I know college is going to be way better”. The camaraderie among teammates in college is another part of gymnastics that Lee enjoys because it has a more laid-back atmosphere compared with the elite scene, where all eyes are on an individual.

Additionally, college gymnastics is a lot less demanding than elite level because the skills required to be successful are no longer as strenuous and trying. All the achievements have made her more powerful than ever and set her athletic journey apart from others. From the personal front, Lee got support from her two sisters, Shyenne and Evionn; and three brothers, Lucky Noah, and Justin. She became known as Kim Lee when she was just a teenager and the name itself translates into one of growth in gymnastics, something that has been more than prophetic from this young lady.