Suni Lee, an American gymnast hailing from St. Paul (Minnesota), won gold in Thursday's women's gymnastics all around competition. Lee's performance was not only impressive for her athleticism, precision, and historicity; she is the first Hmong American ever to win an Olympic gold.Slate interviewed Phillipe Thao (25-year-old son Hmong refugee and activist who supports social causes in the Hmong communities in St. Paul) to get an idea of the reaction of the Hmong community of the U.S. in Lees win. This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.AdvertisementSlate: What are your feelings right now?Thao: It feels like I've been running on adrenaline. I am still feeling emotional this morning. My cousins, my friends, and I have been texting and DMing one another and sharing tweets and memes. Part of the problem is the fact that we haven't been able have the large cultural celebrations that are so vital to Hmong culture. This feels like the first time we've been able have a celebration. I feel so high.AdvertisementAdvertisementCould you please describe which part of St. Paul Suni Lee comes from?St. Paul has the highest concentration of Hmong residents in the country. There are 66,000 Hmong people in Minnesota, I think. Suni and her family reside on the east side St. Paul. This is the same area as mine. The Hmong population on the east side of St. Paul, as well as large refugee and immigrant communities are all notable. This area is very active and you will see many immigrant businesses on the streets. Here, we even have our Hmong market.AdvertisementAre you a regular fan of the Olympics.It's like any other person. I see it four times a year. This one, especially, with Suni Lee, the first Hmong American Olympian was a great example of how I got more invested in it. Even two years ago, even though she wasn't yet qualified for the Olympics, but was working towards it, I began following her closely along with many other Hmong people, rallying behind the Olympics potential.AdvertisementIt was two years ago that you first heard about her.Talks began about a young girl from St. Paul, who was very skilled in gymnastics and was most likely to be selected for the Olympics. She has been a household name over the last few years. For me and many of my Hmong friends, it was a great feeling to see someone like her at the Olympics. When she won her first gold medal, this was the first time I'd seen a Hmong person be celebrated like that internationally, aside from Brenda Song.AdvertisementHer family rented this Hmong event centre in a St. Paul suburb. Many Hmong people from the community were there to witness it live. It was amazing to see the Hmong community celebrating and crying out for something so important. This is a new kind of representation I have never seen before. It really speaks to how Hmong culture is a communal society. Even though we may not be blood relatives, we support each other.AdvertisementWhat do you think is the most common representation that you have seen?We are a tiny ethnic minority from Southeast Asia and not many people know who we are or have heard of us. Gran Torino was a Clint Eastwood movie that many Hmong people don't like because it depicts gang violence in our culture. Brenda Song was my idol growing up on the Disney Channel. Hmong, she is our Hmong idol. Suni Lee is a remarkable person. In interviews, she speaks openly about Hmong culture in general and our history in particular.AdvertisementWhat does this win, other than representation, mean for the Hmong community?History is not taught in schools. During the Vietnam War, the CIA had this entire operation called the Secret War that recruited a lot people from Laos to fight for the U.S. After the U.S. pulledout of the Vietnam War they left behind the Hmong people, which was what led to us all moving to other countries. Many of us feel forgotten and ignored. Suni Lee winning a gold medal and seeing her perform is a sign that we are finally being seen. It is now a common topic for people to search on Google.AdvertisementAdvertisementMany people observe that if there is very little representation in a community, which I believe it is, then it puts a lot of pressure upon an individual to be exceptional. Is that what you believe?100 percent. Suni Lee is almost my friend in a way. I can't imagine the stress it puts on young women, especially from a small community. That is something I often think about with her. Suni Lee is only at the beginning of her career. It will be interesting to see how these pressures change or how perceptions change.Is there any culture of gymnastics among Hmong?AdvertisementAlthough I don't know if there is a Hmong gymnastics club or how large it is, I have several cousins who were involved in gymnastics growing up. I think that this sport is very popular with the Hmong community. Hmong people have always been passionate about sports, and that's why I believe this is a major reason. We have a large soccer tournament every summer around the Independence Day weekend. It is called the freedom festival. It commemorates the period when young people came to Minnesota. It has evolved over the years to include a soccer tournament as well as a football tournament and a dance tournament in the same weekend. Another part is that Hmong dancing is a large part of Hmong culture. Traditional dancing, which uses acrobatics and gymnastics, is very similar. Gymnastics is a sport that many young Hmong people gravitate to because it's similar to many of the other sports we play.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt makes me wonder if more people will get involved in it.Is that right? It's all I can think of.Do you have any other suggestions that people from outside the community might need?Suni is a refugee from which you must understand, There is a large Hmong population in St. Paul. It is important to remember the barriers Suni and her family had to overcome just to get to the Olympics. It's not like she did it out of privilege. It is a lot due to the support and love of her family. Hmong culture has a stigma that you must pursue a doctor or lawyer career to make money. Our parents have sacrificed so much to help us succeed. It is amazing to see how her dad and mom have supported her throughout her career. It's a great example to other Hmong parents, and I hope it inspires them all to allow their children to pursue their dreams.AdvertisementIs there a time when you could think of a better way to remember the Hmong community than this?It's funny, I have been thinking about it all day. When was the last time that the Hmong community was so happy or united over something like this. It's the only thing I can think of, at least not in my lifetime. Hmong communities have had to unite over tragedy more than celebration moments. It is because of this that it has been so joyful, especially in St. Paul. We can't remember a time we have rallied around something so positive. Not just in St. Paul. We are diaspora people. People from France, Laos and all over the U.S. are coming together to support Suni Lee even though they don't live in the same country. That speaks volumes about the Olympic victory of Suni Lee.Is there going to be celebrations tonightIt is my opinion. There are many Hmong bars in the area, as well as Hmong sports bars. Hennessy is the drink of choice in Hmong culture so I'm sure there will be many Hennessy shots tonight.
