Allison Quynh Lee Plays Badminton Professionally While Attending College

Allison Lee, a badminton player from Fremont, faces the unique challenge of competing internationally while also attending college at Santa Clara University. With training, traveling, and competing taking up much of her time, she has had to find ways to stay on top of her academic responsibilities.

“My biggest challenge is staying engaged with schoolwork during my free time, because after training, traveling, and competing, all I want to do is rest,” Lee said. To make it work, she communicates openly with professors and classmates and tries to plan ahead as much as possible. She noted that adapting to sudden changes is an important part of managing both school and badminton.

Lee recently competed at the World Championships, one of the biggest stages in the sport. She said she did everything she could to prepare, but focused on enjoying the experience rather than just the results. “At the end of the day, I gave it my all and focused on enjoying the game because if you don’t enjoy badminton, what’s the point?” she explained.

Despite the difficulties of balancing school with high-level competition, Lee finds motivation in the sport itself. “I enjoy the competitiveness and passion of badminton,” she said. She also values the community that comes with competing and representing her country, even if badminton can sometimes feel like a lonely sport compared to team-based games.

Looking ahead, Lee hopes to continue competing, especially with the 2028 Olympics taking place in Los Angeles. While she plans to pursue badminton for as long as she can, she also has interests outside of sports. “I definitely want to keep going in badminton, especially with LA 2028 (home court), but I also see myself exploring business and leadership down the road,” she said.

Photo from Allison Lee | Lee shows great determination on and off the court.