Despite Kidney Issues, Suni Lee Aims to Join Simone Biles’ League at Gymnastics Winter Cup

With the Paris Olympics nearing, the gymnasts of great measure are on their way to snatch podiums. Suni Lee, the 20-year-old 2020 Tokyo Olympics all-around gold medalist, finished on top, following Simone Biles’ unforeseen withdrawal. Always toe-to-toe with her older counterpart, Lee stepped into 2023 with a hopeful heart. But in a jiffy, she witnessed her World title dream crash because of a kidney-related issue. The one who was on a healing journey until now has set her sights on the Winter Cup.

Two comebacks on the list: Suni Lee and Gabby Douglas. Both of them stand with one all-around Olympic gold each. Douglas hasn’t competed since 2016, and Lee’s upsetting year has struck her out of several events. But is the youngest of the three only aiming for gold or following Simone Biles’ skill-naming footsteps?

Suni Lee has a reason to compete at the Winter Cup

On February 24, 2024, the Winter Cup in Louisville, Kentucky, will roll in with a bang. A line-up of Paris hopefuls will look to bag scores and praises alike. They would also have a fair chance to secure a spot at the World Cup in Baku, 7-10 March. Aiming to put up a riveting show, the 20-year-old Minnesota native will also work towards naming a skill after her. The full-twisting, layout Jaeger on the uneven bars, (‘The Lee’) which Suni Lee has been perfecting for two years now, will finally have a home. “I’m just excited because I think it’ll be pretty cool having the skill being named”, said the first Hmong-American Olympian.

Moving on, her coach Jess Graba unveiled the real reason behind her Winter Cup participation. “The whole reason we’re doing Winter Cup is so that we can go to Baku and get the skill named because Suni really wants to get that out of the way. Get it out of the way, so it’s not a question mark going into the spring.” Though there is ongoing speculation about who will take the crown, the juggernaut’s recent training camp endeared more eyes than usual.

Lee’s first US training camp since the World trials

In the recent training camp, Lee didn’t look like she had battled a kidney issue. Her balance beam and uneven bars routine looked so strong that USA Gymnastics women’s high-performance strategic lead Alicia Sacramone said, “She’s a great example of like a ‘super senior'”.

READ MORE: Suni Lee’s Winter Cup Attendance Spurs Auburn University To Reflect on Her Time as a Tiger

“She knows what she’s doing. It’s like riding a bike. Once you get back and you get in the swing of it, she’ll be fine. It’s just getting her physically back to where she wants to be“, she added. Back-to-back events for her to claim the skill, Lee wishes to clinch her second consecutive all-around Olympic gold as well.

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