Miss Sunisa Lee, a Hmong American girl in Minnesota who is based in St.Paul Minnesota's Midwest Gymnastic Centre has just done Hmong communities and the US proud by winning golds and a bronze from Jesolo (Italy) Trophy International Competition Feb 28-Mar 03.
According to FloGymnastics, Miss Sunisa Lee has won the all-around in her senior elite debut both as a team and individually and walked away with one gold each in individual floor and bars and won bronze in beam while China got silver and Italy captured bronze.
Miss Lee is the first Hmong American girl that is selected to represent the US National Gymnastic Team (Team USA) according to USA Gymnastics days before the competition commence.
She said that she is very determined to do her best and have to train hard every day after morning classes and she will attend her training until 8 pm everyday till Sunday, which she didn't really take any time off rather focusing on training.
Sunisa Lee and the selection notification from USA Gymnastics to play for TEAM USA-John Lee Source: John Lee
Besides winning the Jesolo (Italy) Trophy International Competition, she has also won one gold medal and three silvers from last year Pacific Rim 2018 Gymnastic competition as well.
She told SBS Hmong that she didn't have much time to enjoy herself like going out to places or having fun and catching up with her friends because she wants to mainly focus on her study and her gymnastic training.
Sunisa Lee's medals from Pacific Rim 2018 Gymnastic Competition - John Lee Source: John Lee
You can watch Sunisa Lee training session here:
Sunisa said that it took her has been playing gymnastic for the last nine years and it took her 5 years to be able to be in the elite team and representing the US in the national team. However, Miss Sunisa Lee is looking forward to joining the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics though it is also how she handles her training and competition.
Hmong first athlete to play for USA National Gymnastic Team-John Lee Source: John Lee
Miss Lee's advice to anyone who wants to get into a gymnastic competition that "I would say that If you really want to do it then you should try it and put your all into it and never give up, and you can do anything that you put your mind into it."
Sunisa beam training session:
John Lee, Miss Sunisa Lee's father said that it is a very demanding job due to the frequent travel due to the nature of this sport. So the hardest thing is managing time and financial difficulties.
"It's all about her and her determination, she doesn't have a lot of friends, after classes she has to attend gymnastic training. As her parents, if she is into this then she shall get all my supports."
Mr. Lee said that though there are funds for this type of sport but Sunisa cannot apply due to its contradiction with the scholarship that she's got. But it is lucky that there are a lot of Hmong communities and Hmong businesses in Minnesota throw their supports when he did fundraising for his daughter.
Mr. John Lee wants to say to anybody that "if your children are good at any type of sports or education, we should fully support them so they can fulfil their potential. My generation may not have that chance but I would like to encourage any parents to fully support their children if they are good at something."
