Former Auburn gymnast Sunee Lee named new SI Swimsuit athlete

Sports Illustrated announced this week that All-American and former Auburn gymnast Sunee Lee will make her SI Swimsuit debut in the magazine’s 2025 issue.

“Currently, the athlete is in Boca Raton, Florida, preparing to shoot her first full-length film for the magazine,” SI Swimsuit’s Martha Zeitoun wrote on Monday.

Zaitoun added that she would pose for photographer Ben Horton.

“We are thrilled to begin filming season for the Class of 2025 with an outstanding lineup of strong female athletes,” said SI Swimsuit Editor-in-Chief MJ Day. according to Zaitoun. “This remarkable group, which includes Olympic medalists, world champions and record-breakers, represents the next generation of stars poised to change the world of sport. They challenge stereotypes and champion equality, inspiring young girls to see themselves as both athletes and leaders. At SI Swimsuit, we have always celebrated the future of women, and there is no better way to honor these remarkable achievements than by featuring them in the pages of our issue.”

The 21-year-old athlete is a six-time Olympic medalist. At the 2024 Games in Paris, she won three Olympic medals, including a gold medal in the team event. She also won bronze in the individual all-around and uneven bars.

At the 2020 Toyko Games (held in 2021), Lee won the gold medal in the individual all-around, becoming the sixth American woman to accomplish this feat. She also won silver in the team event and bronze on uneven bars.

Lee also excelled on the uneven bars, competing outside of the Olympics. She became a two-time US champion on uneven bars.

At Auburn, Lee won the SEC title on uneven bars and the NCAA championship on beam.

SI.com’s Natalie Zamora contributed news about Lee’s photo shoot on Monday. Readers can see a preview of her photo shoot. Here and find further updates on SI Swimsuit Instagram.