Team USA’s Suni Lee won gold in Tokyo – and teammate Simone Biles was her personal hype woman.
Biles took to Instagram to share a number of posts congratulating Lee, who won gold Thursday in the women’s individual all-around gymnastics final. Lee stepped up and defended the title in place of Biles, the event’s reigning champion, after she paused her Olympic run to focus on her mental health.
Biles shared a video of Lee holding her gold medal after the podium ceremony and screamed with joy over her teammate’s historic accomplishment. Lee, 18, is the first Hmong American to compete in the Olympics.
“YAAASSSSSS BBYYYYY!!!!,” Biles wrote over the video. “The queen has arrived,” she added while capturing Lee sporting her gold medal around her neck.
In a second Instagram post congratulating Lee, Biles wrote, “CONGRATS PRINCESS absolutely killed it!!! OLYMPIC CHAMPION RIGHT HERE !!! So so so beyond proud of you!!!!”
Lee, along with Biles and teammates Jordan Chiles and Grace McCallum, also won silver in the team final Tuesday.
Biles has been cheering on her teammates, and fellow U.S. Olympians, since her sudden departure from the Summer Games this week. She unexpectedly pulled out of Tuesday’s team all-around final and Thursday’s final individual all-around competition as she continues to care for her mental well-being.
It’s unclear if she’ll return to competition, though Biles has upcoming events scheduled for Aug. 1, 2 and 3.