Suni Lee secures spot in 2024 U.S. women's Olympic gymnastics team

Reigning U.S. Olympic champion Sunisa ‘Suni’ Lee has secured her spot on the 2024 U.S. women's Olympic gymnastics team.

The 21-year-old from St. Paul finished second in the trials, which concluded on Sunday, June 30, at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

Despite difficulties on the vault and beam, Lee achieved the highest score on bars, her signature event, which also earned her a bronze medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

"I was just reminded of my goals every day and constantly surround by people who never let me give up, and I’m so thankful," Lee said after her selection, standing on stage with her teammates.

Overcome with emotion, she began to speak about her past struggles but had to pause. "A year ago I didn’t even think this was—" she started before gathering herself.

Once composed, she praised the "amazing ladies" on her team and expressed her excitement for Paris, saying, "I can’t wait to be in Paris!"

Lee competed against over a dozen athletes, including four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles, for one of the five coveted spots on Team USA’s artistic gymnastics squad.

The selection committee considered both the athletes’ performances in the trials and their previous experience when choosing the Olympic team.

In her debut at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, delayed to August 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lee became the first Asian-American woman to win a gold medal in the gymnastics all-around event.