Jaylin Smith is a USC cornerback whom Olympic gymnast Suni Lee was publicly linked with after photos of the two together surfaced in December 2021. Lee spoke about the relationship publicly in January 2022. Reporting from 2024 through 2026 has not confirmed whether they are still together, so the accurate description is former or previously reported partner, not current boyfriend.
Who is Jaylin Smith?
Smith is a football player who plays cornerback at the University of Southern California (USC). That football role is the only biographical detail needed to identify him in connection with Lee. Sporting News, in a July 28, 2024 article, described his USC career and cited season statistics for 2022 and 2023. Those figures are tied to specific seasons, so they should be presented as historical, not as current career totals.
How the relationship became public
The public association began with photographs rather than an announcement. Sporting News reported that Lee shared photos of herself and Smith together in December 2021. Those photos establish that the two were seen together and that Lee chose to share them, but they do not establish when the relationship started or how long it lasted.
The timeline below separates what each source actually says from what it leaves open.
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| Date | Source | What it establishes | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 2021 | Sporting News (July 28, 2024), describing the photos | Lee and Smith appeared together in photos Lee shared publicly | The start date of the relationship or its length |
| January 11, 2022 | TMZ interview with Lee | Lee commented on reactions to the relationship and said she was happy in it at that time | Whether the relationship continued after that interview |
| July 28, 2024 | Sporting News | Smith was described as Lee’s reportedly dating partner; the outlet said it was unclear whether they were still dating | Current status |
| December 2025 | Sporting News | Public reporting still did not confirm whether the two remained together | A breakup; the lack of confirmation is not a confirmed split |
| July 21, 2026 | KARE 11, carried by Yahoo Sports | A profile of Lee’s return to training in Minnesota | Any relationship status; the piece does not address it |
What Lee said in January 2022
The clearest first-person material comes from a January 11, 2022 TMZ interview. TMZ quoted Lee saying, in reference to interracial relationships, “It should be normalized.” She also described herself as “very happy in my relationship” at the time. Both statements should be attributed to Lee through TMZ’s interview and dated to January 2022.
TMZ also reported that Lee addressed negative reactions to the relationship. That is her account of her own experience. It should not be generalized into a claim about any wider community.
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Are Suni Lee and Jaylin Smith still together?
No source reviewed for this article confirms that they are still together, and none confirms a breakup. The status is unresolved in public reporting, which is different from being resolved in either direction.
What later coverage says
The 2024 and 2025 Sporting News pieces both said it was unclear whether the two were still dating. The 2025 coverage is not a breakup announcement. It is simply a report that the question remained unconfirmed. The July 2026 KARE 11 piece on Lee’s training return addresses her career and does not mention her relationship status at all, so it cannot be used to support either a continuing relationship or a split.
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Use wording that describes what is documented: Lee was previously linked to Smith, and public reporting has not confirmed whether they remain together. Avoid present-tense labels such as “her boyfriend” as fact. Avoid treating social-media follow status, anonymous rumor, or a new photo of one person as evidence of either a continuing relationship or a breakup.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Editorial cautions for readers
- Tense matters. “Was linked to” and “previously reported” are accurate. “Is dating” is not established by the reporting.
- Dates matter. The December 2021 photos, the January 2022 interview, and the 2024 and 2025 status reports each describe a different moment.
- Keep private details out. The public record here supports the identification and the timeline. It does not support adding personal or unverified details.
- Attribute the quotes. Lee’s 2022 comments are her own words as reported by TMZ, not a statement about her current relationship.
Readers who want the current status should look for a direct statement from either Lee or Smith. Until one exists, the documented record supports only the past association.
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