How Champion Stories Shape an Olympic Mindset

Sunisa Lee captured the world’s attention when she won the all-around gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the first Hmong American to compete in the Games. Her victory was a masterclass in composure under pressure—a balance of technical precision and emotional control that seemed almost superhuman. Yet behind that gold medal lies a deep reservoir of inspiration drawn from other athletes. Lee has repeatedly credited the stories of perseverance, vulnerability, and unyielding dedication from sports figures around the world as fuel for her own journey. For any athlete or fan looking to understand what drives excellence, examining the narratives that motivate a champion like Lee offers a powerful blueprint. These are not just tales of victory; they are raw accounts of navigating failure, prioritizing well-being, and redefining what strength looks like. Lee’s path—marked by injuries, family loss, and the weight of representing an underrepresented community—mirrors many of the struggles she admires in others. Her ability to translate those influences into nightly practice is what separates a fleeting champion from a lasting icon.

The Role of Athlete Narratives in Building Resilience

For elite competitors, the mental game often separates the good from the great. Lee has been open about the immense pressure she faces as an Olympic champion and a public figure. She actively curates a library of inspirational stories from other athletes to draw upon during difficult moments. This practice is rooted in the psychology of modeling, where observing others overcome obstacles helps an individual build self-efficacy and resilience. By internalizing these journeys, Lee transforms abstract concepts like perseverance into concrete, actionable blueprints for her own career. The stories she favors are not always about winning; they are about the difficult paths taken to get there and the courage to change the conversation around what it means to be an athlete. Research in self-efficacy shows that vicarious experience is one of the strongest predictors of success—seeing someone like you succeed makes your own success feel attainable. Lee applies this principle deliberately: she watches interviews, reads biographies, and tunes into the narratives of athletes who have navigated similar crossroads. This methodical approach to mental preparation is a key reason she remains calm when the beam feels narrow and the world watches.

Inspirational Stories That Shape Sunisa Lee’s Perspective

Simone Biles: Redefining Strength Through Self-Preservation

Perhaps no story has resonated more deeply within the gymnastics community than that of Simone Biles. As the most decorated gymnast in history, Biles’s decision to withdraw from multiple events at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics to protect her mental health sent shockwaves through the sports world. For Sunisa Lee, who was Biles’s teammate on that stage, this was a pivotal moment of leadership and courage. Lee has stated that watching Biles prioritize her well-being taught her that true strength is not about pushing through at all costs; it is about recognizing when to step back to ensure long-term health and safety. Biles’s openness about dealing with “the twisties”—a dangerous mental block where gymnasts lose spatial awareness—created a new vocabulary for mental health in the sport. Lee has said in interviews that Biles’s example allowed her to speak more freely about her own anxiety before meets. This story reinforced to Lee that she could be both a fierce competitor and a person who values her own psychological safety, a balance that has become central to her training philosophy. It also altered the way her coaches prepare her—monitoring not just physical fatigue but emotional readiness, a shift that directly traces back to Biles’s courageous choice.

Michael Jordan: The Fuel of Being Counted Out

While Michael Jordan is known for his six NBA championships and iconic moments, Lee finds her inspiration in a lesser-known part of his biography: being cut from his high school varsity basketball team. This early rejection could have ended his athletic career before it started. Instead, Jordan used it as a catalyst for relentless work ethic, often arriving at the gym before dawn to refine his skills. Lee connects deeply with this story because her own path to the Olympics was not linear. She faced injuries that required surgeries, the loss of close family members during her training, and the pressure of competing on one of the world’s biggest stages as a relative newcomer. Jordan’s journey serves as a reminder that setbacks are not statements about one’s potential; they are setups for comebacks. The lesson Lee carries from Jordan is that dedication is a daily, often unglamorous, practice of saying “no” to comfort and “yes” to growth. She applies this by adding extra conditioning after already exhausting practices, pushing herself through the voice that says “enough.” Jordan’s story also teaches her that motivation can come from proving doubters wrong—a spark she uses when she hears that gymnasts from smaller communities cannot reach the top.

Naomi Osaka: Using Platform for Authentic Advocacy

Naomi Osaka changed the conversation around athlete mental health by withdrawing from the 2021 French Open to prioritize her own well-being, revealing her long-standing struggles with depression and anxiety. For Lee, who operates in a sport known for its intense scrutiny and rigid judging, Osaka’s example is a masterclass in boundary-setting and authenticity. Osaka did not apologize for choosing herself; she explained her choice with clarity and used her platform to advocate for systemic change in how sports organizations support athletes (New York Times). Lee has expressed admiration for Osaka’s ability to perform at an elite level while also being unapologetically vocal about the importance of self-care. This story encourages Lee to stay true to her own values, even when external voices—fans, media, sponsors—demand more from her. It teaches that an athlete’s influence extends beyond the scoreboard and into the realm of human dignity and personal agency. In her college career at Auburn, Lee has used her Instagram to speak about mental health openly, a direct echo of Osaka’s candor. She reminds herself that saying “no” to a media request or a competition can be just as powerful as saying “yes” to a gold medal attempt.

Allyson Felix: Redefining Possibility Through Motherhood

Allyson Felix’s journey is a testament to defying expectations and fighting for equity. After facing a life-threatening pregnancy complication and being asked by her sponsor to take a pay cut after becoming a mother, Felix fought back. She left the sponsor, started her own shoe company (Saysh), and went on to win her 11th Olympic medal as a mother—surpassing nearly everyone’s expectations for what a 30-something athlete could achieve. Lee, who is navigating her own college career and professional ambitions while thinking about future family and career options, looks to Felix as proof that an athlete can have a multifaceted life without compromising performance. Felix’s advocacy for maternal health and pay equity also inspires Lee to think beyond the gym about her own platform. The lesson here is that ambition does not have to be singular; an athlete can be a parent, an advocate, and a champion simultaneously, rewriting the rules of what is possible in sports. Lee has spoken about how Felix’s example gives her permission to explore interests outside gymnastics—like her entrepreneurial goals and her role as a Hmong American role model—without feeling that she is “less than” as a competitor.

Misty Copeland: Breaking Barriers in a Traditional World

As a Black ballerina who did not start dancing until age 13, Misty Copeland faced systemic barriers in the historically rigid world of ballet. She was told her body was not the “right” type and that she started too late to ever become a principal dancer. Yet she persisted, eventually becoming the first African American female principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre—a milestone that took decades of relentless effort and confrontation with institutional bias. Lee, who as a Hmong American gymnast also broke cultural and ethnic barriers, finds resonance in Copeland’s story. It reinforces the idea that representation matters and that breaking through a ceiling requires both extraordinary talent and an unwavering belief in one’s own worth. This narrative encourages Lee to embrace her unique identity and heritage as strengths rather than obstacles. She has worn traditional Hmong jewelry during competitions and spoken proudly about her community, mirroring Copeland’s embrace of her own background. Copeland’s story also teaches Lee that the journey is as important as the destination—that each step forward for a pioneer helps clear the path for those who come next.

Core Lessons: What These Stories Teach About Success

While each story is unique, they converge on a set of universal principles that Lee applies to her own life and career. These lessons are the foundation of her mental framework, tested daily in the gym and on the competitive stage.

  • Resilience is a muscle, not a trait. Resilience is built through repeated exposure to difficulty, not inherited. Michael Jordan’s high school rejection and Simone Biles’s mental health crisis both demonstrate that resilience is forged in the moments when quitting seems easiest. Lee strengthens this muscle by intentionally putting herself in uncomfortable situations during practice—trying new skills, performing in front of small crowds, and working through fatigue.
  • Self-care is a competitive advantage. Biles and Osaka normalized the idea that stepping back can be a strategic move for long-term greatness. Lee has adopted this by being more mindful of her training load and emotional state. She now schedules “mental rest days” into her weekly routine, a practice that has reduced her injury rate and improved her consistency in competition.
  • Perseverance requires adaptability. Allyson Felix and Misty Copeland both had to change their environments or fight for new opportunities when the existing structures failed them. Perseverance is not just about grinding; it is about finding new paths when the old ones are blocked. Lee learned this when she had to adjust her training after switching universities and coaches; instead of forcing the old methods, she embraced new techniques that better suited her evolving body.
  • Authenticity builds trust and impact. Every athlete on Lee’s list is known for being genuine. Osaka’s vulnerability and Copeland’s refusal to change who she was for the ballet world show that authenticity attracts genuine support and creates lasting change. Lee applies this by sharing both her victories and her struggles on social media, fostering a deeper connection with fans and young athletes who see themselves in her.
  • Redefining success expands possibility. These athletes do not measure success solely by medals or contracts. Biles measures it by well-being; Felix measures it by advocacy and family. Lee has learned to define success on her own terms, which reduces the crushing weight of external expectations. She now celebrates small wins—a clean routine in practice, a positive interaction with a fan—as part of a broader definition of achievement.

Translating Inspiration into Daily Practice

Lee does not just passively consume these stories; she actively integrates their lessons into her training regimen and mental preparation. When she faces a difficult skill in the gym, she recalls Jordan’s early morning workouts. When the pressure of competition mounts, she visualizes Biles’s composure in speaking her truth. This translation of inspiration into practice is what separates motivation from transformation. Lee has also spoken about creating a “mental highlight reel” of these athletes’ moments of triumph over adversity, which she uses during visualization exercises before meets. She closes her eyes and pictures Biles walking off the mat, Osaka leaving the court, Felix crossing the finish line with her daughter watching—each image a reminder that the struggle is part of the story. This practical application of borrowed resilience helps her stay grounded and focused.

Furthermore, Lee uses these narratives to foster a growth mindset. Instead of seeing setbacks as failures, she reframes them as chapters in a larger story of development. If Michael Jordan could be cut from his team and become the GOAT, then a missed routine or a tough practice is not a verdict on her potential—it is simply a signal to adjust and improve. This reframing reduces anxiety and keeps her locked into the process rather than the outcome. She also writes in a journal after each practice, noting which lesson from her heroes she applied that day—a habit borrowed from the discipline she admires in Copeland’s daily ballet practice. This deliberate link between inspiration and action ensures that the stories she loves do not remain external, but become internalized tools for growth.

The Broader Impact of Sharing Athlete Stories

The stories that inspire Sunisa Lee are not just personal; they carry a broader cultural significance. When high-profile athletes like Biles, Osaka, and Felix share their vulnerabilities, they create a permission structure for younger athletes to do the same. This shifts the culture of sports from one of stoic toughness to one of holistic well-being. Lee, by publicly naming these athletes as her inspirations, continues this chain of influence. She normalizes the act of looking outward for strength and wisdom, reminding fans that even champions need role models. The ripple effect is real: young gymnasts from Hmong communities have started to speak out about their own mental health battles, citing Lee and Biles as reasons they feel safe to do so. Parents and coaches are also learning that winning is not everything—that the well-being of the athlete matters more than the medal count.

These narratives also challenge the myth of the solitary super-athlete who overcomes everything alone. Lee’s openness about her inspirations reveals the communal nature of success. Behind every gold medal is a network of support, including the legacies of those who came before. By sharing her favorite stories, Lee contributes to a growing archive of sports literature that emphasizes mental health, equity, and authenticity over pure statistics. She is part of a movement where athletes are no longer silent machines but storytellers themselves. The Internet has amplified this: each time Lee tweets about Felix’s advocacy or quotes Jordan’s work ethic, she introduces those icons to a new generation. In this way, inspiration becomes cyclical—Lee draws from the past while creating new material for future athletes to draw from themselves.

Conclusion: The Enduring Power of Shared Experience

Sunisa Lee’s favorite inspirational stories from other athletes are more than just feel-good anecdotes; they are strategic tools for navigating the demanding world of elite gymnastics. From Simone Biles’s courageous prioritization of mental health to Michael Jordan’s relentless work ethic, Naomi Osaka’s advocacy, Allyson Felix’s fight for equity, and Misty Copeland’s barrier-breaking journey, each narrative offers a distinct lesson in resilience, self-care, perseverance, and authenticity. These stories remind us that the path to greatness is rarely linear and that the willingness to be vulnerable is often the most powerful form of courage. For anyone striving to achieve at a high level—whether in sports, business, or personal endeavors—the example set by these athletes, and embraced by Sunisa Lee, provides a roadmap for turning obstacles into opportunities and for using one’s platform to inspire lasting change. Lee continues to write her own chapter in this tradition, proving that the most inspiring stories are those that honor the struggle as much as the victory. And in doing so, she creates new stories that will one day fuel the next generation of champions.