Role model: Auburn gymnast Suni Lee embraces spotlight

AUBURN, Ala. – Sunisa Lee understands when her fans want to take her picture, say hello or get her autograph.

“I love meeting fans because I know it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” the Auburn sophomore gymnast said.

One month after winning a gold medal in the all-around at the Tokyo Olympics, Suni attended the Met Gala in New York City.

“When I met Justin Bieber, I was like, ‘Okay, I’m going to go up to you and I’m going to say something because I’m probably never going to see you again,’” Lee said. “So I like when people do it.”

Whether it’s after a gymnastics meet where fans came to see her, or a chance encounter at a restaurant during a team meal, Lee does her best to accommodate each request.

“It’s really important to be a great role model,” said Lee, mentioning fellow high-profile collegiate gymnasts Jordan Chiles and Olivia Dunne, “and a bunch of other athletes who have a higher platform in gymnastics have been doing a really great job of interacting with fans, making sure that it’s comfortable, not being rude.

“I like people to think they can come up to me at any time and talk to me.”

In her second and final season on the Plains, Lee has made a tremendous impact on Auburn gymnastics.

As a freshman in 2022, she won the NCAA beam title and helped the Tigers reach the Final Four for the first time at the NCAA Championship.

This season, she’s earned SEC Gymnast of the Week honors three times in five weeks and ranks No. 1 in NCAA gymnastics with an all-around average of 39.713.

“This year I’m actually having a lot more fun than I was last year,” Lee said. “Because I was coming straight off the Olympics, I did have that pressure of being the Olympic gold medalist, I think I carried it throughout the rest of the season.

“This year I’m more thinking of my team and having fun while I can because I am going to go back to competing elite and training for the Olympics right after. I know I’m going to be back training by myself and I’m not going to have this team behind me.

“I’m a lot stronger than I was. I’m in a lot better shape than I was last year. I feel like I know what I’m doing this year more than last year. It’s very exciting when I feel like I can bond with the team.”

Lee balances competing for Auburn with preparing for the 2024 Olympics in Paris next summer. At the midpoint of the regular season, the Tigers are ranked No. 5 in the country.

“Whatever you do in the gym is what you’re going to get in the meet,” she said. “If you’ve put in all the work in the gym like we all do, then the results are going to show.”

Knowing her time as an Auburn gymnast will conclude when the season ends in mid-April, Lee embraces being part of a team in what is typically an individual sport.

“I’ve enjoyed it so much,” she said. “We’ve all been bonding so well, making sure we all feel comfortable and can talk to each other. Trying to see what we can do better. Because if we’re locked in as a team, we’re going to be great when we’re competing on the floor.”

Fans have three more opportunities to see Suni – and perhaps get a post-meet picture – at Neville Arena, beginning in Friday’s top 10 matchup with No. 9 LSU at 7:30 p.m. CT.

“I’m really excited for the amazing gymnastics that there is to come,” she said.

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer