Suni Lee: Auburn Tiger, Olympic Champion, headlining network TV competition
Suni Lee is staying busy as she transitions from winning an Olympic gold medal in the 2020 Olympics to enrolling as a freshman at Auburn University as a student-athlete.
Lee will headline the next season of “Dancing with the Stars” as the gymnast announced herself on Thursday, via the show’s Twitter account.
Suni Lee embracing NIL opporunities at Auburn
Lee has touted her Auburn pride since the moment she stepped foot on campus. The newfound star actually made the “Dancing with the Stars” announcement from Auburn Arena, the home of the Tigers’ basketball programs.
The new NIL rules that went into effect in July allow Lee, a member of the Auburn gymnastics team, to use her platform to elevate her personal brand and the brand of the university as a whole.
Lee, who will reportedly earn a salary starting at $150,000, is embracing the unprecedented opportunities in front of her.
“I have to take advantage of this opportunity,” said Lee, who arrived at Auburn with gold, silver and bronze medals from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, said. “Nobody has done it before. I want to help be the face of that and help other people in the future know that they can do college and still make money. I feel like it’s a win-win situation.”
Supported by a management team to handle her endorsements and appearances while also turning to Auburn head gymnastics coach Jeff Graba, assistant coach Ashley Johnston for guidance, Lee plans to capitalize on NIL while balancing the need to rest and recover from the Olympics while preparing for her freshman season.
“It’s amazing how everyone here has been so supportive and so welcoming about me coming here,” Lee said. “I know it’s crazy to have an Olympic gold medalist come but I’m excited because I feel like everybody here is so nice and the atmosphere is way different than I thought it would be. I’m just excited to be in a classroom with other people and get that college experience that I’ve been looking for,” she said. “Everybody here is so nice and welcoming. It feels like home.”
Auburn fans can tune into season 30 of Dancing With the Stars on ABC, set to premiere on Sept. 20.