Sunisa (Suni) Lee is a woman on the rise. Back in 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics, captivated viewers tuned in to witness Lee make a vault and a 4-inch-wide balance beam look like structures on her own personal playground – with nearly flawless routines that not only earned her a spot on the world stage, but an eventual gold medal, too. In the same way that Lee’s athletic skill raised her to new heights (often quite literally), it also catapulted her into a new realm of fame and responsibility – though she’d have you believe she’s simply another student at Auburn University, her 1.7 million Instagram followers tell a different story.
While gymnastics is still very much at the forefront of Lee’s life, these days, she’s also finding new ways to make space for it – she’s especially committed to making the sport more accessible for other up-and-coming athletes. “I think in general, it’s just important to have more representation and other women that we can look up to in sports,” says Lee. Last summer, she announced a new partnership in collaboration with Clif Bar and the Voice in Sport Foundation, which aims to introduce more specialized Title IX trainings to 20 campuses around the US, all with the goal of helping to increase women’s participation across all levels of sport.
“I’ve been a longtime lover of Clif, being an athlete, of course, needing a go-to snack . . . but I was really excited when we began the conversation to work together. We wanted to find a like-minded organization to work with, and [the] Voice in Sport Foundation could not have been more perfect,” says Lee.
The superstar gymnast is set to compete on behalf of Team USA once again at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with qualifying events in the women’s all around, vault, uneven bars, and balance beam and floor. We had the chance to talk with Lee about her Clif collaboration, the importance of prioritizing your mental health as an athlete, and all the must-have essentials that help power her through her active lifestyle. Spoiler: even her product recommendations are golden!
