By Amitha Reji George
Suni Lee received a special invitation to be at Athlos from Olympic champion Masai Russell. Both athletes are serial winners in their respective sports, and their friendship was strengthened during their time together at the Paris Olympics.Lee had a successful 2024 season, bouncing back on the mat and earning three Olympic medals after enduring three kidney diseases. Meanwhile, Masai Russell also headed to her first Olympics last year and won a gold medal in the women’s 100-meter hurdles.Suni Lee, meanwhile, is taking a break from gymnastics and exploring other interests, including fashion, after moving to New York. Track and field star Masai Russell began her 2025 season in April but had to pause following an impressive run at the Grand Slam Track in Miami due to injury. However, the 25-year-old recently returned to competition at the Prefontaine Classic, where she finished fourth.At the Prefontaine Classic, while speaking with track & field analyst Katelyn Hutchison, Russell said she鈥檇 love to see Lee at Athlos and would choose her as the one to invite.鈥淪uni Lee needs to pull up because she lives in New York too. Suni, I鈥檓 calling you out, we need to pull up to Athlos, the all-women鈥檚 meet on October 10th,” Russell said (via Athlos)Since stepping away from the gym, Lee has been exploring new opportunities. Most recently, she was seen at the Barclays Center on June 25, interviewing NBA players ahead of the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft.鈥淚’m excited to get more into fashion鈥,- Suni Lee opened up about her interest in fashionSuni Lee at Fanatics Fest NYC 2025 – Source: GettyAt the 2024 Paris Games, Suni Lee won her first gold medal in the team all-around event, along with two individual bronze medals, bringing her total Olympic medal count to six.After the Paris Olympics run, the gymnast took a break from the sport. In the Humans of Hoka film, which was released in June 2025, Lee shared her interest in exploring fashion:鈥淭his new era of me. I just want to start taking better care of myself. I’m really excited to get more into fashion. And I love giving back, but I also just love, like, taking a walk and going to the park and just kind of sitting there. Whether it’s journaling or listening to music, I’m just focusing on taking it day by day.” (3:00 onwards)The American gymnast hasn鈥檛 yet decided on her participation in the Los Angeles Games.