After competing in the balance beam final at the Olympics, Team USA gymnast Suni Lee had one thing on her mind: a comforting bowl of pho.
The 21-year-old Hmong American reflected on her recent performances in Paris, speaking about how she plans to celebrate her three medals.
Lee earned two bronze medals, one in the individual all-around final last Thursday and another in the uneven bars final on Sunday, along with a gold in the team all-around event, bringing her total Olympic medals to six.
‘What are your celebration plans?’ she was asked, to which Suni replied: ‘I’m just really craving some pho.’
‘I’ve been looking everywhere for pho or some kind of soup here, but I can’t find it. I guess that’s just my Asian side coming out.’
Suni Lee is focused on one specific dish post-Olympics: Pho
The gymnast had trouble locating the Vietnamese dish in Paris
Reactions on social media were mixed, with many expressing disbelief at Lee’s statements, given that Paris hosts one of the largest Vietnamese communities globally. Historically, France colonized Vietnam from the late 1800s to mid-1900s.
‘I thought there were large Vietnamese communities in France. How come there is no pho there?’ questioned one fan on X.
‘The last time I was in Paris, I had some of the best pho ever. The Vietnamese restaurants are amazing!’ shared another.
Others noted, ‘There are so many excellent pho spots in Paris, what is she talking about?’
‘There’s plenty of good pho in the 9th [arrondissement]. There’s a vibrant Vietnamese community in Paris,’ added a user.
Lee previously gained attention at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics when she mentioned wanting to eat pizza after winning gold in the women’s all-around final.
Lee with her USA teammate Simone Biles, celebrating their gold in the team all-around event on July 30
TripAdvisor lists 61 pho restaurants in Paris.
Previously, Lee shared her struggles with kidney diseases over the past year, which caused significant weight fluctuations.
At one point, she mentioned gaining 45 pounds and spent time bedridden in December.
‘I have to keep reminding myself that I wasn’t even supposed to be here,’ Lee stated. ‘A few months ago, we didn’t even think this was a possibility.’
