Suni Lee gets her own official day in Minnesota after winning gold at Tokyo Olympics
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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter are both declaring Friday "Sunisa Lee Day" after the Olympic gymnast won a gold medal for the all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympics.
Walz on Thursday signed a proclamation applauding Lee, who was born in Saint Paul, and declaring Friday as Sunisa Lee Day. The proclamation also noted that Lee is the first Hmong-American to make the U.S. Olympic team.
“Lee has made our state and country proud by etching her name among the legendary USA Olympians that have won gold at the Summer Games,” he declared in the proclamation.
Walz in a statement obtained by USA TODAY said, "We so proud of you, Suni. Way to bring home the gold!”
Carter on Twitter shared his city's proclamation declaring Friday as Sunisa Lee Day in her hometown, noting she began practicing gymnastics when she was 6 years old.
“For the past 12 years, Sunisa has committed to grow as a gymnast, demonstrating incredible skills, drive, and commitment leading her to competing across the country, and around the world,” the city's proclamation states.
“And we join members of our Hmong American community, along with all those in Saint Paul, throughout the state of Minnesota, across our nation and around the world in celebrating Sunisa Lee, and in thanking her for inspiring all of us,” the proclamation continued.
Saint Paul is excited to join all those across our state, nation, and world in celebrating our first Hmong American Olympic champion! I have declared tomorrow Sunisa Lee Day in the City of Saint Paul! Congratulations, @sunisalee_ , thank you for inspiring us all! pic.twitter.com/hmpmsouNfP
— Mayor Melvin Carter (@MayorCarter) July 29, 2021
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Lee on Thursday became the fifth consecutive American woman, and sixth overall, to win gold in the all-around gymnastics competition. Her victory came after the United States’s women’s gymnastics team won silver medals in the team competition.
Lee in the in all-around competition beat Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade’s 57.298 score with her 57.433. She also beat the athletes on the Russian Olympic Committee team, which won gold in the team compeition earlier this week.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tokyo Olympics: Minnesota officials declare Friday Suni Lee Day
