"I feel like I am finally a part of something" - US-born Lynnzee Brown on becoming the first woman gymnast to represent Haiti at the Olympics

Lynnzee Brown will become the first woman gymnast to represent Haiti at the Olympic Games when she competes in Paris, and she couldn't be prouder. The Missouri-born's father is an immigrant from Haiti and she has represented the country internationally since 2023.

Brown rose to prominence during her collegiate career with the University of Denver, representing the school on the NCAA circuit between 2018 and 2023. In 2019, she was crowned co-champion on the floor alongside three other athletes, including Olympic champion Kyla Ross. Brown also won a silver on the vault and was a four-time Big 12 Conference champion.

After her collegiate career, Lynnzee Brown opted to represent Haiti on the international circuit, as she competed at the 2023 Pan American Artistic Gymnastics Championships and the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. In May 2024, the 25-year-old was given a universality spot from the Tripartite Commission, ensuring that she'd compete at the Paris Olympics.

Speaking on what it means for her to compete for Haiti at the marquee event, Brown called the opportunity a chance to connect to her culture. She said (via CBS News):

“It's a way that I'm connecting to the culture. I wasn't raised around a lot of my Haitian family, so taking it upon myself to do the history of the country and language has been really cool. And representing, I feel like I'm finally a part of something.”

Lynnzee Brown went on to speak about how important it is for Haiti to be represented in a positive light at the international level, away from the political tension plaguing the country.

“From some of the things that I'm trying to learn about the country, they are strong people, we are strong people. Even from the infancy of the country, I'm really just trying to show that we are here and there are so many great things that we are trying to put a new light on Haiti and all the light on Haiti and all the things that people of Haiti can do. I'm very honored to have been chosen to be in this spot and represent the country," she added.

Lynnzee Brown on the importance of Simone Biles speaking out about her mental health

In the same interview with CBS News, Lynnzee Brown spoke about the importance of mental health and how her family has played a crucial role in her getting to the Olympics. When asked how she battled the challenges to get to the top of the sport, the gymnast replied:

“Leaning on family. I took a lot of time to not bottle things up and reach out to people in communities where you kind of get that solace and emotional needs met. my family has really helped me through that.”

She went on to acknowledge Simone Biles and her role in starting the much-needed discussion surrounding mental health in gymnastics.

“I think Simone started a huge wave of gymnasts specifically to speak about their mental health. I'm honored that she's done that because it allows athletes like me to express that as well," Brown said.

Lynnzee Brown will compete at the Paris Olympics, starting with the qualification rounds, on July 28. So far in her international career, the gymnast has represented Haiti at two major international competitions — the 2023 Pan American Artistic Gymnastics Championships and the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics. At the Pan American Artistic Gymnastics, she finished 15th in the all-around, and at the World Championships, she finished 82nd.