Sunisa Lee: Olympic gold medallist says she was pepper sprayed in racist attack

Sunisa Lee won gold in Tokyo. Credit: PA

Olympic gold medal winning gymnast Sunisa Lee has said she was pepper-sprayed in a racist drive-by attack in Los Angeles.

The US gymnast, who became the first Asian-American woman to win gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, told PopSugar about the incident.

Lee said a group in a car yelled racist slurs, telling her and her friends - who were all of Asian heritage - to "go back to where they came from".

One of the passengers in the car then sprayed Lee's arm with pepper spray before speeding away from the scene, she said.

"I was so mad, but there was nothing I could do or control because they skirted off," the 18-year-old told PopSugar.

"I didn't do anything to them, and having the reputation, it's so hard because I didn't want to do anything that could get me into trouble.

"I just let it happen."

Lee became the fist Hmong American gymnast to represent the USA at the Olympics and has spoken of the pride she has in her heritage.