The final results from Tokyo ended up not being quite what anyone predicted going in. After the bars final, even Lee seemed to be almost stunned that she had won the all-around gold but finished third on her best event.

“This medal probably means more to me than the all-around gold medal because bars is my thing,” she said.

In the height of the moment, Lee even indicated she might try to come back to elite gymnastics to go after the bars title again at the Paris Olympics in 2024. That’s a discussion for another day, though.

For Lee and her teammates, the end of the Tokyo Games meant a trip to New York for more media appearances, then fellow Minnesota gymnasts Lee and Grace McCallum were greeted by a welcome party at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport last Thursday. Three days later, Lee was the celebrated at a parade in her hometown, with many from the state’s Hmong population as well as Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz among the attendees.

“I’m so overwhelmed,” Lee told the crowd, according to Minnesota Public Radio, “and I really feel all of the love and support that all of you have given me throughout my whole entire journey and especially now since — I’m an Olympic gold medalist!”

There was little time to bask in the hometown glory, though.

Just two days after the parade, Lee’s next chapter began when she arrived at Auburn to begin her freshman year. In the past, any athlete who wanted to profit from their Olympic fame had to turn professional and give up their NCAA eligibility. New so-called “name, image and likeness” rules mean Lee and others no longer have to pick one or the other.

Lee has yet to make any grand pronouncements on that front. In a way, though, the real winners in the NCAA’s decision are gymnastics fans who now get to watch the Olympic champ compete all winter for the Tigers.

A WHIRLWIND JOURNEY TOOK SUNI LEE FROM GOLD TO COLLEGE IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS

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