The Paris 2024 Olympics has had the world enthralled this summer, tuning in at all hours of the day to witness the most talented humans on the planet change history and ignite hope. It’s certainly churned out its fair share of superstars, from Katie Ledecky to Sha’Carri Richardson to the entire USA gymnastics team.
Alongside teammate Simone Biles, 21-year-old Sunisa Lee has made a name for herself in the 2024 Olympics. An integral part to the “Golden Girls” team earning the USA gold this year, she’s no stranger to awards and excellence, standing as the sixth-most-decorated American female gymnast. Qualifying for elite at age 11, investing in her dreams has surely paid off.
After photos surfaced of Lee posing with NBA star Devin Booker, fans began to wonder whether or not there was romance brewing between she and the fellow Olympian. However, there may be another athlete who has actually captured the gymnast’s heart.
Who Is Sunisa Lee Dating?
The lifestyle of a dedicated athlete doesn’t lend to much free time for dating, but Lee has certainly made it work. In December 2021, she Instagram hard-launched her boyfriend Jaylin Smith, a football player for the University of Southern California. The two were met with a lot of backlash for their interracial love, as many didn’t approve of her dating a Black man outside of her culture. Belonging to the Hmong American community residing in Minnesota, an indigenous group from East Asia and Southeast Asia, haters felt betrayed by her decision.
Many came to Lee’s support, noting how antiquated it was to hate on an interracial couple, and that the priority was Lee’s happiness. She even commented on one of her fans posts supporting her, saying “This makes me so happy. I’ve received so much hate,” and claimed that many people only support her “when it’s beneficial for them, never when it comes to my happiness.” She went on to delete her Instagram post and keep much of their relationship under wraps in hopes of evading more public hate.
Who Is Jaylin Smith?
20-year-old Jaylin Smith is currently a senior at USC, serving as a cornerback for their impressive football team. Hailing from Palmdale, California, he’s already a star in the NCAA circuit, with roughly 123 tackles, two forced fumbles, three pass breakups, an INT and a QB hurry under his belt. He was also featured on Snoop Dogg’s 2018 Netflix docuseries Coach Snoop, revolving around a young football team on a quest to win the national title. Smith, going by the name “J-Roc” was a fan favorite. During his time on the show, he opened up about his mom, who died in a hit-and-run when he was young.
“Every time I scored, I’d hear her screaming on the sideline,” Jaylin told producers. “So you know, I miss her being on the sideline with me. I cry sometimes, but I don’t like to show my emotions on anything. I’m a strong guy. Imma grieve on the field. I’m gonna make sure you feel it because you on a different team from me.”
It’s unclear whether or not the two remain together, as they’ve kept their love off social media and under the radar in an effort to protect their peace.