Sports

Photos: From Olympic goals to Olympic gold — Sunisa Lee's journey

"Oh my god" Suni Lee says.
"Oh my god" Sunisa Lee says after landing a vault in practice at Midwest Gymnastics in St. Paul, Minn. on May 10, 2017.
Evan Frost | MPR News

Updated: Aug. 5, 2:46 p.m.

The world celebrates her as an Olympic champion. But Sunisa Lee was just a St. Paul kid with a dream in 2017 when MPR News began writing about her Olympic hopes.

Lee and her teammate Grace McCallum of Isanti returned from their successful Olympic journey Thursday. A crowd was already gathered at the airport to greet them.

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said a parade is planned for Lee’s honor on White Bear Avenue Sunday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Over the years, MPR News photographers captured her development and the arc of her journey to Tokyo. Here’s a look through their lenses of the young Suni, along with international photos from her gold medal win and other competitions.