SECOND TO NONE
USA’s Lee rises to take gold in All-Around after Biles’ withdrawal
Team USA’s Olympics dominance in the women’s gymnastics all-around continued Thursday when Suni Lee took home the gold.
Lee, 18, became the fifth consecutive American to win the all-round title, scoring 57.433 points to narrowly beat Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade.
Simone Biles, who won the event in 2016 for Team USA, supported from the stands Thursday as Lee claimed the victory, doing just enough to win by scoring 13.700 points in a floor exercise routine that featured three tumbling passes.
“I knew that I did the best routine that I could, so waiting there was probably the scariest moment,” Lee said after her win.
“That’s why I hate the waiting game, but just super proud of myself.”
The victory exhilarated Lee’s parents, whose lively celebration at a watch party in Minnesota was captured in a video by local news station KARE.
Andrade won the silver with a score of 57.298, making her the first Latin American athlete to medal in the event. The bronze went to Angelina Melnikova of the Russian Olympic Committee, who scored 57.199 points.
Lee, who is from St. Paul, is the first Hmong American gymnast to compete at the Olympics.
“It feels super crazy, I definitely didn’t think I’d be here in this moment with the gold medal,” said
Lee, who said she had wanted to quit gymnastics at one point. “I definitely haven’t let it sink in yet as I feel like it’s just not real life.
But the past two years with Covid, and my dad, and all that stuff.”
Her father, John
Lee, became paralyzed from the neck down after falling from a ladder in
2019.
Shortly after his daughter’s win, John Lee told
NBC’s “Today” show, “We’re so proud of her.”
Lee’s gold extended a streak for
Team USA that began in 2004 with Carly Patterson earning the gold in the all-around. Nastia Liukin won the event in 2008, and Gabby Douglas did the same in 2012.
Biles, 24, was considered the favorite to defend her 2016 all-around title this year, but withdrew from the event on Wednesday to focus on her mental health.
“CONGRATS PRINCESS,” Biles posted Thursday on Instagram, alongside a photo of her and Lee. “Absolutely killed it!!!
OLYMPIC CHAMPION RIGHT HERE !!! So so so beyond proud of you !!!! ”
Biles’ replacement in the all-around Thursday was Jade Carey, who came in ninth.
Lee, who recently battled ankle injuries, was also part of the Team USA lineup that took home the silver in Tuesday’s women’s team final, which was won by the Russian Olympic Committee. Biles did not compete in that event.
Lee became the sixth member of Team USA overall to win the gold for the all-around. Mary Lou Retton also won the event in 1984.
“Bright lights. Big stage. Suni shined,” Team USA tweeted Thursday.
Lee’s victory was also praised by the Olympics, which tweeted, “The streak continues, well done Suni!”
Lee joined Team USA’s national team in 2017 and was part of the gold-winning lineup at the world championships in 2019. She will compete with Auburn University’s gymnastics team beginning in the fall.