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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 sophomore at Auburn University, her 1.7 million Instagram followers and wide array of fans 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 — and she’s particularly 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. Just recently, 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.
With a new partnership under her belt and a bubbling excitement for all that’s to come (perhaps even a run at the 2024 Olympics?), we had the chance to talk with Lee exclusively about her latest collaboration, the importance of prioritizing your mental health as an athlete, and all the must-have essentials that help to keep her going in light of her super-busy schedule. Spoiler: even her product recommendations are golden!