A Champion’s Support System: The Coaches and Mentors Behind Sunisa Lee’s Gold

When Sunisa Lee stepped onto the podium at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to claim the all-around gold medal, the world saw a moment of triumph. But behind that moment stood a network of coaches, trainers, and mentors who had shaped her from a tiny gymnast in St. Paul, Minnesota, into an Olympic champion. Sunisa has repeatedly emphasized that her success was never a solo endeavor—it was built on the shoulders of those who believed in her, pushed her, and taught her how to rise after each fall. From her first coach who spotted a spark of talent to the elite mentors who refined her technical precision, each played a critical role in her journey.

This article explores the key figures who have guided Sunisa Lee throughout her career, detailing their unique contributions and the values they instilled. It also delves into how her support system helped her overcome injuries, cultural pressures, and the immense weight of Olympic expectations. By understanding these relationships, we gain a fuller picture of what it takes to reach the pinnacle of gymnastics—and the people who make that climb possible.

Early Foundations: The Coaches Who Discovered a Star

Penny Jernigan – The First Believer

Every great athlete’s story begins with a coach who sees potential before it is fully formed. For Sunisa Lee, that coach was Penny Jernigan. At a local gym in St. Paul, Minnesota, Jernigan recognized the young Hmong-American girl’s natural flexibility, strength, and work ethic when Sunisa was just six years old. Jernigan focused on building a strong technical foundation—teaching proper body alignment, basic tumbling, and the discipline required for hours of practice. She also nurtured Sunisa’s love for the sport, making training fun while instilling a sense of responsibility. Jernigan’s early mentorship gave Sunisa the confidence to pursue gymnastics seriously, even when her family faced financial struggles.

In interviews, Sunisa has credited Jernigan with teaching her that gymnastics is not just about winning medals but about personal growth. “She made me believe I could do anything if I worked hard,” Sunisa once said. Jernigan remained a supportive presence even after Sunisa moved to a more competitive gym, proving that the first coach’s influence lasts a lifetime.

Jess Graba – The Quarterback of Her Career

When Sunisa was around age seven, she moved to Midwest Gymnastics in Little Canada, Minnesota, where she began training under Jess Graba. Graba became her primary coach for over a decade, overseeing her development from a promising young gymnast to an Olympic medalist. Known for his calm demeanor and strategic mind, Graba tailored training plans that maximized Sunisa’s strengths—especially her extraordinary balance beam and uneven bars work—while steadily improving her floor exercise and vault.

Graba’s coaching style emphasizes communication and mutual respect. He never forced routines; instead, he worked with Sunisa to understand her body’s limits and her mental state. This approach proved vital during the grueling years leading up to the Tokyo Games. For instance, when Sunisa developed a severe case of cellulitis in 2019 that left her hospitalized and unable to do a single cartwheel, Graba adjusted her schedule to allow for gradual recovery. He also helped her navigate the mental toll of watching her mother, Yeev Thoj, suffer a paralyzing accident in 2019—a crisis that nearly ended Sunisa’s Olympic dream. Graba’s steady presence gave Sunisa the stability she needed to keep going.

Under Graba’s guidance, Sunisa won the 2019 U.S. Junior National all-around title and later earned spots on national teams. He accompanied her to the 2020 Olympic Trials and was in Tokyo (virtually, due to coaching restrictions) as she claimed gold. Even today, Graba remains a trusted advisor as Sunisa transitions into college and professional gymnastics. His role is often described as “the quarterback” of her career—calling the plays, adjusting the strategy, and making sure everyone around Sunisa is aligned.

The Olympic Journey: Coaches Who Fine-Tuned Her Techniques

Yuan Wang – The Bar and Beam Specialist

As Sunisa prepared for the Olympics, she sought additional expertise to refine her routines on her two strongest events: uneven bars and balance beam. She began working with Yuan Wang, a former Chinese gymnast and coach who had trained athletes at the highest levels. Yuan Wang joined Sunisa’s coaching team in the year leading up to the Tokyo Games, providing one-on-one attention on technique and choreography.

Wang’s strength was in the details—hand placement, release timing, and the subtle angles that make the difference between a clean routine and a medal-winning one. He helped Sunisa perfect the “Sunisa Lee” skill on uneven bars (a release move between the bars, now named after her) and polished her beam series to score a 15.200 in the Olympic all-around final—the highest beam score of any competitor that night. Sunisa has described Wang as a coach who “never let me get away with sloppy moves. He made me do it again until it was perfect.”

Yuan Wang also served as a bridge between her American training and the technical traditions of Chinese gymnastics, known for its precision on bars and beam. This cross-cultural influence added a new dimension to Sunisa’s routines, making them both artistic and technically demanding.

Valorie Kondos Field – The Mental Game Mentor

While technical coaches shaped her routines, Sunisa also turned to Valorie Kondos Field, the legendary former UCLA gymnastics coach, for mental conditioning. Known affectionately as “Miss Val,” Kondos Field had coached 21 NCAA championships and mentored countless Olympians, yet she had never been a gymnast herself. Her expertise lay in psychology, leadership, and building resilience.

Kondos Field began working with Sunisa in 2018, focusing on visualization, breathing techniques, and positive self-talk. She helped Sunisa reframe anxiety as excitement—a crucial skill when facing the pressure of Olympic trials. During the Tokyo Games, Kondos Field sent daily messages of encouragement, and Sunisa has credited her with maintaining her composure after a shaky start on vault in the all-around final. “She taught me that I don’t have to be perfect to win—I just have to be present and trust my training,” Sunisa later said.

Kondos Field’s influence extended beyond competition. She also coached Sunisa on how to handle media attention, sponsorships, and the responsibilities of being a role model for the Hmong community. This holistic mentorship proved invaluable as Sunisa transitioned from athlete to icon.

College and Beyond: Coaches in a New Chapter

Jeff Graba – The College Coach and Family Connection

In 2021, Sunisa Lee committed to Auburn University, where she joined the gymnastics team coached by Jeff Graba—the twin brother of her longtime coach, Jess Graba. Jeff Graba welcomed Sunisa with a philosophy similar to his brother’s: prioritize the athlete’s well-being, celebrate small victories, and build a supportive team culture. At Auburn, Sunisa flourished as a student-athlete, earning SEC All-Freshman honors and helping the Tigers achieve their highest score in program history.

Jeff Graba played a key role in easing Sunisa’s transition from elite gymnastics to the NCAA arena, which has different rules and a faster competition pace. He also helped her manage the physical toll of college gymnastics while recovering from her 2023 kidney infection that sidelined her for months. Jeff’s experience coaching both elite and college athletes allowed him to create a customized training plan that balanced rigorous practice with academic demands.

The Graba brothers’ shared coaching philosophy—based on empathy, trust, and long-term development—has been a constant anchor in Sunisa’s career. Their identical approach (they often finish each other’s sentences) meant Sunisa never had to adjust to a radically different coaching style when she moved from club to college.

Yuan Wang at Auburn – Continued Technical Refinement

Yuan Wang also relocated to Auburn as an assistant coach for the Tigers, providing continuity for Sunisa’s technical training. At Auburn, Wang continued to refine her bar and beam sets, adapting them to the NCAA scoring system while maintaining the high difficulty required for elite competition. He worked alongside Sunisa during her recovery from kidney issues, helping her slowly rebuild strength without re-injury. Wang’s patience and attention to form were crucial in ensuring she could compete safely and effectively.

With Wang’s guidance, Sunisa debuted new skills at Auburn that she later used in elite meets, such as a unique release move on bars and a complex beam series that involves a switch leap, back handspring, and layout step-out. This synergy between her college and elite training kept Sunisa competitive on both fronts.

Mentors and Support System: Beyond the Gym Walls

Family – The Unwavering Backbone

While coaches provided the technical and mental framework, Sunisa’s family formed the emotional foundation. Her parents, Yeev Thoj and John Lee, made countless sacrifices to support her gymnastics—driving her to practice at 5 a.m., fundraising for travel costs, and moving the family closer to her gym. After Yeev’s accident left her paralyzed, Sunisa considered quitting to help care for her, but her mother insisted she continue. “She told me, ‘This is your dream. Don’t let my accident stop you,’” Sunisa recalled.

Her sister, Shyenne Lee, has been a constant source of encouragement, offering a normal, non-gymnastics perspective. Shyenne often reminds Sunisa to have fun and not take herself too seriously—a grounding influence in the high-pressure sport. Sunisa’s younger siblings and cousins have also been cheerleaders, attending meets whenever possible and celebrating every milestone.

The extended Hmong community in St. Paul also rallied around Sunisa, organizing fundraisers and watching her competitions late into the night. Their pride and support gave her a sense of purpose beyond individual glory. Sunisa has frequently said that she competes not just for herself, but for her family and her heritage.

Former Olympians as Informal Mentors

Sunisa has also drawn inspiration from past gymnastics greats. Simone Biles, her teammate and friend, offered advice on handling pressure and fame. Although they are peers, Sunisa has called Simone a mentor in terms of professionalism and resilience. After the Tokyo team final, when Simone withdrew due to the twisties, Sunisa was left to lead the U.S. team to silver. She later said that Simone’s composure during that difficult moment taught her how to handle adversity with grace.

Nastia Liukin, the 2008 Olympic all-around champion, also reached out to Sunisa before Tokyo, sharing insights about what to expect during the all-around final and how to manage the whirlwind of media attention afterward. Liukin’s advice about staying “grounded and grateful” resonated with Sunisa, who has carried that lesson into her college career.

In addition, Mary Lou Retton (1984 gold medalist) and Carly Patterson (2004 gold medalist) have publicly praised Sunisa, offering encouragement through social media and interviews. While not formal mentors, their recognition reinforced Sunisa’s confidence that she belonged among the greats.

The Values Instilled: Resilience, Discipline, and Purpose

Every coach and mentor in Sunisa Lee’s life has reinforced the same core values: resilience, discipline, and purpose. Resilience was tested when she dealt with her mother’s paralysis, her own health scares, and the postponement of the Olympics. Discipline came from countless hours of repetitions, careful nutrition, and balancing school with training. Purpose grew from knowing that her success could inspire other young Hmong girls to dream big.

Sunisa’s coaches also taught her that gymnastics is not about perfection—it’s about giving your best effort each day. Jess Graba often reminded her, “You don’t have to be perfect to be amazing.” Valorie Kondos Field emphasized that mental strength is just as important as physical skill. And Penny Jernigan’s early lessons about enjoying the process have stayed with Sunisa through the toughest moments.

Conclusion

Sunisa Lee’s journey from a little girl in St. Paul to an Olympic gold medalist is a story of talent meeting the right guidance. The coaches and mentors in her life—Penny Jernigan, Jess Graba, Yuan Wang, Valorie Kondos Field, Jeff Graba, and her family—each contributed a unique piece to the puzzle. They provided not only technical expertise but also emotional support, life advice, and unwavering belief in her potential. As Sunisa continues her career, whether at Auburn, in elite competition, or perhaps in coaching one day, the lessons from these extraordinary individuals will remain at the core of everything she achieves.

Their influence reminds us that no champion rises alone. Behind every medal is a team of people who care, who push, and who never give up. Sunisa Lee is a reflection of their dedication as much as her own.

Further Reading