Ultra Swim Swimmer of the Month is a recurring SwimSwam feature shedding light on a U.S.-based swimmer who has proven themselves over the past month. As with any item of recognition, Swimmer of the Month is a subjective exercise meant to highlight one athlete whose work holds noteworthy context – perhaps a swimmer who was visibly outperforming other swimmers over the month, or one whose accomplishments slipped through the cracks among other high-profile swims. If your favorite athlete wasn’t selected, feel free to respectfully recognize them in our comment section.
West Coast Aquatics’ Syunta Lee had a sensational month of July, delivering lifetime best times across nine different events at two meets less than a week apart.
Lee, 14, started off by sweeping his events at the Pacific Northwest LC Senior Championships, claiming the boys’ 200 free (1:53.75), 400 free (4:04.03), 800 free (8:25.21), 200 back (2:06.99), 200 IM (2:05.98) and 400 IM (4:28.44), setting best times in all of them.
He also set new PBs on relay lead-offs in the 50 free (24.88), 100 free (53.10) and 50 back (28.33).
A few days later at the U.S. Speedo Summer Championships, Lee reset his best times in the 400 free (4:03.49), 200 IM (2:05.55) and 400 IM (4:26.32), earning ‘B’ final swims in both medley events despite being one of the youngest swimmers in the field.
Lee climbs to #3 all-time in the boys’ 13-14 age group in the 400 IM, trailing only Luka Mijatovic (4:24.20) and Michael Phelps (4:24.77), and he also moves to 4th in the 200 IM behind Shareef Elaydi (2:03.73), Michael Andrew (2:04.13) and Baylor Stanton (2:05.15).
Just in events raced over the last few weeks, Lee ranks in the top 61 all-time in the boys’ 13-14 age group in the United States across seven events.
Lee’s NAG Rankings
| Event | Time | 13-14 NAG Rank |
| 100 FR | 53.10 | 61 |
| 200 FR | 1:53.75 | 13 |
| 400 FR | 4:03.49 | 37 |
| 800 FR | 8:25.21 | 35 |
| 200 BK | 2:06.99 | 46 |
| 200 IM | 2:05.55 | 4 |
| 400 IM | 4:26.32 | 3 |
Lee trains at West Coast Aquatics under head coach Nick Chevalier and associate head coach Carlene Takaki.
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What a season by Syunta! Well deserved recognition for a hard working athlete!
Should be noted that his primary coach is Carlene Takaki who has done a tremendous job with Lee!