Suni qualified for elite status just as she turned 11 in 2014. By 14, she was already among the best gymnasts in the country. However, achieving this level of success in gymnastics is not without significant financial burdens.

Elite gymnastics training is notoriously expensive. Between gym fees, coaching, travel expenses, leotards, and other costs, the expenses quickly add up.

According to a 2017 Forbes analysis, the average annual cost of raising an Olympic-level gymnast is $15,000. For those on the national team, USA Gymnastics covers some costs, but this support is not always guaranteed and varies based on available funding.

Families still need to cover their travel, lodging, and time away from work. For Suni’s parents, this meant a daily juggling act between their jobs and Suni’s demanding schedule.

John worked as a service engineer at Cummins, and Yeev was employed in the case management department at UCare. Balancing their jobs with Suni’s training was challenging, especially with five other children, including two older step-siblings, to care for.

Suni’s coaches frequently covered additional costs, paying their own way to developmental or training camps and waiving gym fees when necessary. Turning away a gymnast of Suni’s potential was never an option.

“We see potential in her. That’s why we spend that kind of money,” Suni’s mother shared. The Lee family’s extended network also rallied to support Suni. Fundraisers became an annual event.

John organized these at local bars or nightclubs, selling tables for the night. Sometimes, Suni would make an appearance, singing for the crowd and signing autographs. The family also hosted “pho days,” preparing large batches of the noodle soup and accepting donations in exchange for a bowl.

John humorously noted the financial sacrifices, saying that if Suni wasn’t in gymnastics, he could have bought a new car or a boat with that kind of money. “But, you know, sacrifices,” he said, without a hint of regret.

Suni deeply appreciated her family’s dedication. “It feels good for them to be supporting me because I love gymnastics so much,” a 14-year-old Suni expressed. Her parents’ hard work and sacrifices paid off, as Suni was selected to represent the USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a testament to her talent and their enduring support.

Facing Racism: The Backlash Against Suni Lee’s Interracial Relationship

Ahead of her incredible run at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Suni went Instagram-official with her boyfriend, fellow athlete Jaylin, in a post that has since been deleted.

Jaylin, a proud player on the USC football team and part of the House of Victory, a Premier Collective for USC Student-Athletes, had nearly 50,000 followers on Instagram at the time of writing.

Suni made their relationship public in December 2021 by sharing a series of photos of herself cuddling the college athlete, and captioning the images with a simple heart emoji.

While many social media users warmly welcomed the young couple, Suni also faced a barrage of hateful comments. Moments after sharing her loving relationship, trolls voiced their disapproval.

Most of the backlash came from the Hmong-American community, which had celebrated Suni as the first Hmong-American gymnast at the Tokyo Olympics. In response to the backlash, Suni reposted a supportive TikTok video. Alixvangphom, a TikTok user, created a reaction video addressing the criticism from the Hmong-American community.

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