Photo: Time Twitter
Suni Leeis jumping for joy after being named one ofTIMEmagazine’s100 Most Influential People in the World.
On Wednesday, after TIME released the full roster of honorees — which includes the 18-year-old Olympic gymnast alongside Billie Eilish, Naomi Osaka, Dr. Anthony Fauci,Prince HarryandMeghan Markleand more — the outletshared a videoof Lee reacting to the happy news.
“No way!” Lee says in the clip, leaping into the air, after her sister reveals the honor.
Suni Lee.Jamie Squire/Getty
She was selected for the annual list thanks to her Olympic performance that “cements her legacy” and “signifies representation.”
“This milestone has and continues to inspire the Hmong community,” fellow Olympic champion Nastia Liukinwrote for TIME. “But it also sends a simple yet powerful message to underrepresented people everywhere: Dream big because anything is possible.”
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Lee has been open about her experience representing the Hmong community. Shetold PEOPLEin June that her history-making accomplishment “means a lot to the Hmong community … and to just be an inspiration to other Hmong people [means] a lot to me too.”
Along with heading off toAuburn Universityfor her freshman year of college, last month, Lee was confirmed as a contestant on the upcoming 30th season ofDancing with the Stars, kicking off Sept. 20 on ABC.
source: people.com
