Congratulations are in order for Team USA’s gymnastics squad, which has just secured the women’s team all-around gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The 21-year-old Suni Lee, a standout Hmong-American gymnast, was the center of attention, later winning a bronze medal in the individual all-around.
Success often brings new challenges, particularly when it puts one’s personal life in the spotlight. Fans are now scrutinizing the relationship between Lee and college football star Jaylin Smith.
Who is this rising star who has captured the heart of an American sweetheart, and are they still together? Jaylin Smith was already a notable figure during his high school years.
Jaylin Smith, 20, had established himself well before entering college football. During his second year at Bishop Alemany High School in California, he made an impact with 31 tackles in 2018.
However, it was the following year that he truly made a name for himself, recording 75 combined tackles (58 solo, 17 assisted) and a sack in 12 games, as reported by Sporting News.
This outstanding performance earned him PrepStar All-American honors, distinguishing him as one of the top high school cornerbacks, wide receivers, and running backs in the nation.
Smith has continued to excel at the University of Southern California, where he plays for the Trojans while pursuing a degree in communications.
His freshman year was promising with 11 tackles, although a concussion caused him to miss several games. He made a strong recovery, accumulating 37 tackles in 2022 and leading his team with 75 tackles in 2023.
His impressive junior season even earned him the Defensive MVP title at the Holiday Bowl.
As he enters his senior year, Smith is expected to be a key player for the Trojans’ cornerbacks, showcasing the skills that made him a highly anticipated recruit.
Smith’s talents extend beyond the football field. In 2018, he appeared in Snoop Dogg’s Netflix docuseries “Coach Snoop,” which follows the rapper’s efforts to guide his Snoop Youth Football League to a national championship.
On the show, Smith, known as “J-Roc,” played as a running back and faced older competition. Snoop Dogg praised Smith on the show, saying, “J-Roc, he’s a different kind of kid. Definitely one of my favorites.”
Smith’s story is also marked by personal resilience. In the “Coach Snoop” series, he shared the emotional impact of losing his mother in a hit-and-run accident before the show aired.
Smith revealed, “Every time I scored, I’d hear her screaming on the sideline so, you know, I miss her being on the sideline with me. I cry sometimes, but I don’t like to show my emotions on anything. I’m a strong guy.”
Now, with his relationship with Suni Lee in the public eye, Smith faces additional scrutiny. The couple first appeared in Instagram posts together in 2021, which have since been deleted.
The public response to their relationship has been mixed, with some facing racial backlash online, according to People.
Despite the negativity, there is support for the couple. One TikTok user expressed positive sentiments with a video captioned:
“I know that Sunisa will be judged by certain eyes in the Hmong community because her man is Black. Love is love, no matter what race or gender you are. Keep doing you, queen.”
As of now, the status of their relationship remains uncertain, with speculation that they may have parted ways, as they are no longer following each other on Instagram.