(NEW YORK) — For Suni Lee, gymnastics is what she calls her happy place.
“I truly love gymnastics with everything in me,” the 19-year-old Olympian told ABC News’ Good Morning America.
In 2021, Lee took home a gold medal in the individual all-around at the Tokyo Olympics as well as a silver in the team competition and a bronze in the uneven bars.
Though it was her gold medal on the world stage that launched her into the public consciousness, her love for the sport began when her family introduced her to gymnastics at 6 years old.
“It was just amazing to me,” she said. “I loved being able to fly and just kind of do stuff that not a lot of people could do. It kind of made me feel unstoppable.”
Lee said she is thankful for her family and without their support, she could not be where she is today.
“My parents sacrificed so much for me,” she said. “I really have a really great support system.”
Lee said she knew she wanted to compete on the world stage from a young age.
“I would be like, ‘I want to go to the Olympics, and I want to win a gold medal,'” she said.
Lee, who is now competing for Auburn University, is often seen on the mat sporting a confident smile, which she attributes to her passion for the sport as well as Invisalign, for whom she is a spokesperson.
“If you put your mind to something and work really hard, you can do amazing things,” Lee said.
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