There was a time when Sunisa Lee couldn’t even hold onto the bar. Her fingers would slip, her grip would falter, and the very routine that had once been her signature felt like an impossible challenge. In 2023, her body betrayed her—swollen, weak, and worn down by a rare kidney disease. The Olympic dream she had once chased so fearlessly seemed to fade into the distance. Could she ever return? Even she wasn’t sure.

Fast forward to Paris, 2024. Against all odds, against every setback, Suni defied expectations. She soared, spun, and stuck her landing—grabbing the bronze medal in the women’s uneven bars event. With that, she became the first American woman gymnast to win two Olympic medals on the uneven bars. It wasn’t luck. And it wasn’t a miracle. But it was her grit. It was nearly 500 days of relentless training, of pushing through pain, of refusing to give up. But wait, the story isn’t over yet!

Now, with the Olympics behind her, Suni steps back into the gym for a new season. She approaches the uneven bars with the same routine that earned her a place in history. Muscle memory kicks in—her hands find the bar, and her body lifts into motion… But something feels off. More than 200 days. That’s how long it took for Suni Lee to step back into the gym after her triumphant yet bittersweet journey at the Paris Olympics. Seven long months of healing, rebuilding, and waiting. But when she finally returned, it wasn’t the kind of grand comeback we’d seen from her before. 

There were no full-throttle routines, no gravity-defying performances—just a quiet, determined presence. On March 15, Suni shared a glimpse of her return to the gym on Instagram. The clip showed her swinging on the uneven bars, attempting a Yeager release—a daring move that requires precision, power, and trust in her own grip. The video, however, cut off before the dismount. Was it perfect? No one knows.

But one thing was clear—her return wasn’t painless. Her caption said it all: “I caught the first Yeager I tried… my shoulders are doneeee for after this.” The price of greatness? Aching shoulders, burning muscles, and the kind of exhaustion only champions understand. Additionally, for her, this time the entry into the gym was a way to break her ‘boredom.’ But what did she get in return? Well, talking about champions, hasn’t the 22-year-old been on a mission in the uneven bars routine? Can you recall the mission? Let us help you. 

Last year, Suni Lee set the gymnastics world buzzing with a series of social media clips. They weren’t just any training videos—they showed her working on a move that could cement her name in history: “The Lee.” But what exactly is ‘The Lee?’ At first glance, it might seem like a regular Jaeger release—a daring move where a gymnast swings backward in an L-grip or reverse grip, then launches into a front somersault over the bar. But here’s where Suni’s brilliance comes in.

The six-time Olympic medalist didn’t just follow the traditional Jaeger. She rewrote it. In her version, she adds a full twist in midair before regripping the bar. That single twist transforms an already difficult move into something extraordinary—a test of air awareness, precision, and sheer guts. But despite perfecting the move in training, The Lee isn’t officially named after her. Not yet. For that to happen, she needs to successfully land it in an international competition such as the World Championships or the Olympics. It’s a high-stakes challenge. If she pulls it off, she won’t just be remembered as an Olympic champion—she’ll leave her permanent mark in the ‘Code of Points,’ a legacy written in the very fabric of gymnastics itself. And here comes the missing piece. 

The 53rd Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, Jakarta contest is 7 months away. Suni can try out the move there to get it named after her. That can be another reason for her trying her skills on the uneven bars on her first day in the gym. However, Suni is showing signs of returning to the mat. Last Friday, there was evidence. Let us explain. 

Suni Lee shows up in the gymnastics battle of the Tigers

On March 14, the LSU Tigers stormed into Alabama for their final regular-season showdown. Their opponent? Auburn Tigers—the former gymnastics home of none other than Suni Lee. And just like that, the night had an unexpected star. Dressed in an Auburn jacket, Suni Lee took her spot in the crowd, her presence enough to turn heads, steal camera shots, and spark cheers from the stands. As the battle unfolded, routines soared, landings stuck (and some didn’t), and the energy inside the arena hit its peak. The night, however, didn’t end in favor of Suni’s former team—LSU clinched the victory. But here’s the twist: Suni still won!

Because across the gym, from the opposite camp, came Olivia Dunne. The two had once been rivals in the NCAA gymnastics scene, competing on different sides of the mat. But on this night, competition took a backseat to friendship. Livvy couldn’t help but rush over, pose for pictures, crack jokes, and share a moment that felt straight out of their college days. And now, here comes the ultimate result. 

In the end, the scoreboard said LSU won the meet. But in the stands? Suni Lee walked away with a victory of her own. Will it boost her to make a full comeback to the gym? Drop your comments.