With an eye on more gold in Paris, Sunisa “Suni” Lee will leave school in 2023 to focus on the Olympics

After winning gold in the women’s all-around competition in Tokyo 2020, gymnast Sunisa Lee is ready for a repeat performance in Paris 2024.

As Paris draws closer, the 19-year-old announced she will be leaving Auburn University in Alabama to focus on defending her gold medal.

“Competing for Auburn University has always been a dream of mine,” Lee posted on her social media. “With that being said, this will be my last season competing at Auburn University. My focus right now is to make it the most incredible season yet and to be the best teammate I can be, to strive for excellence, and to reach our maximum potential.”

When she does leave Auburn in the spring, Lee will do so with more trophies in hand. During her freshman year she won a national championship on the balance beam and a conference championship on the bars.

The university will begin their 2022-23 season on December 16 with a preview meet, and will wrap up the season in March 2023. Afterwards the focus will be 100 percent on Paris.

In addition to her all-around gold medal, Lee left Tokyo 2020 with a silver medal in the team competition and a bronze in the uneven bars. An impressive debut to be certain, but Lee knows she can do even better on her next Olympic go-around.

“I’m letting my body and my mind heal, and I’m ready to get back out there and compete again,” she posted. “I have my sights set on Paris 2024, and I know what I have to do to get there.”