Who is Suni Lee’s boyfriend Jaylin Smith – and are they still together? The US gymnast is shining at the Paris Olympics, and her American footballer beau once appeared on Snoop Dogg’s Netflix show

So who is this rising star who captured the heart of an American sweetheart, and are they still an item?

Jaylin Smith was a big deal even in high school

Jaylin Smith, 20, had made a name for himself long before he joined the collegiate ranks. As a second-year at Bishop Alemany High School in California, he racked up an impressive 31 tackles in 2018, but he really burst onto the scene the following year, tallying 75 combined tackles (58 solo, 17 assisted) and a sack in 12 games, as reported by Sporting News.

His stand-out performance earned him PrepStar All-American honours, making him one of the top high school cornerbacks, wide receivers and running backs in the United States.

He continues to shine at the University of Southern California

Transitioning from high school glory to college pursuits, Smith has continued to make his mark on the football field and is suiting up for the Trojans as he earns his communications degree at the University of Southern California.

Smith started strong in his first year with 11 tackles, but unfortunately suffered a concussion that sidelined him for a few games that season. But he bounced back in a big way, amassing 37 tackles in 2022 and a team-leading 75 tackles in 2023. His stellar junior season even earned him Defensive MVP honours at the Holiday Bowl.

As Smith prepares for his senior year, he’s slated to be a key contributor to the Trojans’ cornerbacks, and expected to continue showcasing the skills that made him a highly touted recruit.

He starred in Snoop Dogg’s Netflix show

But Smith’s talents extend beyond the football field. In 2018, he starred in Snoop Dogg’s Netflix docuseries Coach Snoop, which follows the rapper’s efforts to lead his Snoop Youth Football League to a national title.

He overcame personal tragedy …

Beneath Smith’s athletic prowess lies a deep well of personal resilience. In the Coach Snoop series, the young cornerback opened up about the loss of his mother in a hit-and-run accident a few years before the show aired.

“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,” said Smith on Coach Snoop.

… and racial prejudice

Now, Smith is in the public eye more than ever after being linked to Lee, who – as mentioned before – is shining at the Paris Olympics. The pair was first spotted together in Instagram posts in 2021 that were later deleted. This may be because public response to their romance has been mixed, and the interracial duo has faced racist backlash online, per People.

Luckily, it’s not all hate, and some have supported the young couple. One TikTok user posted a video celebrating their union and captioned it with: “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.”

That being said, the duo’s current relationship status remains shrouded in mystery, with some speculating they may have gone their separate ways since they are no longer following each other on Instagram.