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HONORING SUNISA (SUNI) LEE FOR HER ACHIEVEMENTS DURING THE 2020 TOKYO
SUMMER OLYMPICS
______
HON. BETTY McCOLLUM
of minnesota
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Sunisa (Suni) Lee for her achievements during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic games, which were held July 23 through August 8, 2021. At the age of 18, Ms. Lee made history in her Olympic debut as the first Hmong-American to represent the United States. She demonstrated outstanding skill and training, winning the gold medal in the women's gymnastics all-around, helping Team USA win a silver medal in the team final and winning the bronze medal in the uneven bars.
Ms. Lee is a lifelong resident of Saint Paul, in Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District. I'm very proud to say that she's a graduate of South Saint Paul High School, my alma mater. She joined a remarkable group of 17 Minnesota athletes who qualified to compete for Team USA. Throughout the competition, she displayed a spirit and determination that boosted Team USA and their fans across the United States.
Born in 2003 to parents who came to the U.S. as refugees from Laos, Ms. Lee is accustomed to working hard and overcoming challenges. Just one day before leaving to compete in the 2019 U.S. gymnastics championship, her father and top cheerleader, Houa (John) Lee, became paralyzed in a tree trimming accident. Despite this tragedy, John encouraged Suni to go and compete. She went on to defy expectations and finish second in the gymnastics all-around, Since then, she has assisted her father in his recovery, along with her mother Yeev Thoj and her siblings, all while continuing her demanding schedule of academic studies and training. Her resilience and determination reflect the heart of an Olympian.
In tribute to Ms. Lee's Olympic gold medal in the women's gymnastics all-around, Governor Tim Walz and Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter named Friday, July 30, 2021 as Sunisa Lee Day in Minnesota and Saint Paul. On August 8, a parade was held in her honor through her East Side Saint Paul neighborhood. Thousands of fans, family and friends gathered on White Bear Avenue to cheer on her victories and celebrating her achievements on behalf of Team USA.
Throughout her life, Ms. Lee has been a positive force for her family, her community in Saint Paul, Minnesota and the United States. Her victory as the first Hmong-American to win Olympic gold in the all-
around gymnastics category is especially inspiring to Asian-American girls who see her as a role model who is capable of performing at the highest level on the global stage.
Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Sunisa Lee for her outstanding accomplishments, along with her incomparable talent, extraordinary commitment, and resilient spirit. We wish Ms. Lee well as she begins a new chapter as a student-athlete at Auburn University.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 150
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