Gymnast Sunisa Lee Wins Gold for Team USA at Tokyo Olympics

A few days ago, Sunisa Lee changed her Instagram bio to “Olympic Silver Medalist” after USA took the second prize at the women’s gymnastics team final. Now, thanks to her stellar performance at the all-around final, she’ll have to update it again: Lee is officially an Olympic gold medalist.

Lee scored 14.600 on vault, 13.833 on balance beam, and 13.700 with her floor routine. The 18-year-old is most known for her impressive skill in uneven bars, scoring 15.300 with her routine, which ESPN reports is the most difficult routine currently being done in competition.

According to The New York Times, Simone Biles, who withdrew from both the team final and the all-around final in efforts to protect her mental health, has not lost that marquee event since 2013 — amidst her absence, Lee stepped up and took her own shot at the gold, with Biles cheering her on from the stands.

Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade won the silver medal, with Russia’s Angelina Melnikova taking home the bronze. Lee’s gold win makes her the fifth American gymnast in a row to claim the all-around title — the U.S. has won the event at every Olympics since 2004. Lee made history as the first Hmong American to make the U.S. Olympic women’s gymnastics team, and is now the first Hmong American to win a gold medal. The Hmong are an ethnic group from Laos, Vietnam, parts of China, and other countries in Southeast Asia. According to the U.S. Census, there are over 260,000 Hmong Americans living in the United States.

“It feels crazy, it is so surreal,” Lee told the press after her historic win. “It’s a dream come true. I don’t even know what to say. It hasn’t even sunk in… the past two years with Covid have been crazy. There was one point I wanted to quit. To be here and to be an Olympic gold medallist is just crazy.”

Lee’s community of family and friends back home were cheering for every step of the way — literally. Videos of their reactions to Lee’s all-around win circulated social media on Thursday.

Others joined in their joyful celebrations, too, including Hoda Kotb, two-time Olympian Aly Raisman, and current teammate Simone Biles. 

Lee herself chimed in on Twitter, basking in the outpour of love and support.

Lee has officially made her mark on the Tokyo Olympics, and has cemented herself in history along the way.

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Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue