Suni Lee In Skimpy Bikini For SI Accused Of 'Sexualizing Herself'

Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee took a break from winning medals to grace the pages of Sports Illustrated swimsuit magazine with some mouthwatering pictures that showed off her dexterity in her sport and, of course, her toned athletic body.

The pictures sparked mixed reactions from fans, with one even chastising her for "sexualizing herself."

Suni Lee announced her feature in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit magazine with a 3-slide post featuring her in a series of daring yet flattering bikinis.

The post opened with a close-up of Lee as she posed, one leg in front of the other, hands at her waist, and a small smile playing on her lips.

The athlete struck the camera with a sideways view, arching her back so that it elongated her figure.

In another slide, Suni Lee sat on a pool chair, leaning back slightly to rest her weight on both hands behind her. The gymnast flashed a bright smile at the camera as her hair fell in soft waves behind her.

The true highlight of the post was the last slide, where the camera caught her in the middle of what looked like a dynamic mid-air backhand spring. Her body was arched into a dramatic backward curve, her legs split in a wide, elegant arc, while her head and hair dropped back freely, emphasizing the motion.

The moment, combined with the beachside background, made a truly exhilarating picture.

Suni Lee slipped into three skimpy bikinis for the Sports Illustrated shoot. The first was a bright green string bikini with an adjustable triangle-style bikini top, which featured delicate strings that tied at her back and behind her neck. It also had a low waist with slim strings that tied at each side.

Her second bikini was a rich coffee-brown color that complemented her tanned skin in all the right ways. It featured a structured bra-style bikini top with underwire support and dainty straps. Its bottoms were high cut, with moderately slim side straps, elongating her toned legs.

The third bikini was obscured by her pose, but it looked like it featured high-waisted bottoms with a stylish bikini top that had cutouts.

The post sparked mixed reactions from fans, garnering over 2,000 comments, some of which were heart-eyed, fire, and heart emojis.

Some fans loved the pictures and were very excited about the feature: "Oh, you're unreal," commented a fan. "You look sooooo good omg," added another.

Others were very unimpressed and didn't hesitate to share their takes. One typed, "literally the most mid Asian I've ever seen 6/10 and that's being generous," while another followed

up with "so average looking gymnasts can be SI models now?"

There was even a fan who accused her of sexualizing herself, typing, "Sad how you have to sexualize yourself for SI Swimsuit."

Still, the negative comments were few and far between. The majority of the comments were compliments and admiration from fans and well-wishers.

Suni Lee took another shot at modeling, walking the 2025 VSFS Runway in a pink sporty ensemble that flattered her athletic figure. It featured a pink sports bra and a pair of black shorts. She also wore a pink zip-up hoodie with miniature wings on its back.

On her feet, she wore a pair of glittering silver slingback heels, which matched the dazzling silver cuffs on her wrists.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist shared the experience with her Instagram family with the caption "this was funn."

More recently, Lee stepped out in a black velvet dress that hugged her like a second skin, accentuating her curves and leaving jaws on the floor.

The stunning dress had delicate, slim straps connected to a standout lace detail that covered the entire bust area.

She accessorized the elegant look with a studded silver choker and its matching earrings, styling her hair in a side part that fell in graceful waves down her shoulder.