ST. LOUIS – Sunisa Lee, newbie to maroon gymnastics, cracked her ticket to the Tokyo Summer Olympics when she finished second in the all-around event at the USA Gymnastics Olympic Trials Sunday night in St. Louis.
“It was an amazing experience to see Suni accomplish what she’s been working towards for years,” said Auburn head coach Jeff Graba said. “That was such a great weekend. The Auburn program is so excited for them and we can’t wait to cheer them on in July. Was an Eagle! “
“It means so much to me and I’ve worked so hard over the past few years,” said Lee. “Just getting on the floor and doing whatever I should be doing feels great.”
Lee from St. Paul, Minnesota, took first place on the beam and on the beam at the end of the two-day trials and took her second place in the all-around event. Lee also overtook Simone Biles on the second day in the all-around competition, marking the first time since 2013 that Biles had been beaten in this category.
Lee went to the Olympic trials as US champion on parallel bars and runner-up in the all-around and beam. She will go to the international meeting as world champion and secure team gold at the 2019 World Championships. Lee also won silver on the floor and bronze on bars at the world meeting.
Women’s gymnastics begins on July 25th at the Tokyo Olympics with the first round of the team competition.
