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

Suni Lee was one of the brighter names of Auburn Gymnastics, setting the program on a visible podium. The gymnast came to the grounds of the Aubrun gymnasium as the 2020 Olympic all-around champion, bringing along a global audience in the process. Today, as she returns to present excellence away from collegiate mats, the alma mater couldn’t have been prouder.

Earlier in 2022, Suni Lee announced she would be retiring from collegiate gymnastics to focus on Paris 2024. While she has continued working for elite stages since then, the Olympian has ensured to cheer on Auburn at every chance. And today the program has chimed in to reciprocate.

Auburn Gymnastics honors its standout athlete

Suni Lee joined Auburn in 2022, following her Olympics success, and made her NCAA debut on January 7, 2022. A couple of months in the Olympian secured an NCAA Championship on the beam and an SEC Championship on bars in 2022. Moreover, the 20-year-old also earned the SEC Freshman of the Year award title. The glistening list thus stood to receive a reminisce from her alma mater as she returned to the Winter Cup. “Looking back at Suni Lee’s time as an Auburn gymnast,” the Tigers wrote, sharing a detailed timeline.

The list commences with Suni Lee securing the 2021 Athlete of the Year award by SI. It then went on to include the many moments of the gymnast as she stunned the collegiate gymnastics stage with her excellence. The first perfect 10 on the uneven bars against LSU, the ‘Olympian participation in NCAA’ influence moment, a trophy for placing second in the national all-around, and numerous more decorated the gymnast’s NCAA career list.

By the announcement of her withdrawal from collegiate sports, Suni Lee had secured eight 10.0s and a champion title on uneven bars. Following a long year of recovery from a kidney issue, well-being, and training since then, Suni has now stepped ahead to grace the Winter Cup.

Suni Lee returns to elite gymnastics

The 20-year-old had to fight a long battle against her ‘incurable kidney disease,’ ever since she first woke up swollen. Though the journey further was hard and uncertain, Suni Lee focused on her well-being and the hopes of returning soon. Her determination initially led her to practice and perfect an element on bars that could be named after her. Then eventually, the 20-year-old made it to the gymnastics roster for the 2024 Winter Cup.

Also Read: Gabby Douglas vs Suni Lee: With Simone Biles’ Absence, Who Will Take Winter Cup Crown?

Suni Lee also attended the team camp earlier this month, announcing she was back for good. “She’s a great example of like a ‘super senior’,” said USA Gymnastics women’s high-performance strategic lead Alicia Sacramone. Ticking off the first stop on the list, the fans and gymnasts await continued momentum on the road to Paris 2024.

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