Ailing Suni Lee Admits Doubts About Winning Paris Olympics 2024 Spot As She Breaks Down Into Tears: “Didn’t Think It Was Possible”

Sunisa Lee still cannot believe she has qualified for Paris. Competing inside a full-capacity Target Centre in Minneapolis, Lee wowed the audience with her spectacular display. Although she could not clinch the top spot, her second-placed finish was in no way ordinary. Suni Lee gathered 111.675 all-around points to make a strong case for herself in Paris. Performing alongside the iconic Simone Biles, the Tokyo Olympics gold medalist almost went toe to toe. And this is something that Lee never thought would be possible. 

Ailing from a kidney complication, Suni Lee managed to overcome the odds to witness glory once again. And while she looks back, Lee feels surreal. Speaking in an interview after the trials, Lee stated, “Well, I was just reminded of my goals every day and constantly surrounded by people who never let me give up. And I’m so thankful because a year ago I didn’t even think this was, yeah, I didn’t think this is possible… So I’m so grateful and all of these amazing ladies are absolutely incredible.”

Well, it all started three years back for Suni Lee. In the absence of Simone Biles, Lee had a meteoric rise to win the all-around gold in Tokyo. However, even before she could finish basking in her glory, fate hit her hard. Lee was diagnosed with an incurable kidney condition. Such a revelation kept her out of competition for a long time and also threatened to cost Lee her career. But a resilient Suni Lee had other plans.

Suni Lee’s road to recovery 

In the initial phases, Lee’s doctor told her that she would never be able to do gymnastics again. Lee suffered from nausea, and lightheadedness, and could not bend her legs in the slightest. After moving back to Auburn for treatment, Lee slowly started recovering. And within a few months, she was back in the gym. However, she never really attempted complex movements and kept it utterly simple. 

Lee made a comeback to the main scheme of things in August 2023. Competing at the US Championships, Suni Lee finished third on the beam. However, to manage the stress, Lee declined an invite to the National Selection camp while taking the rest of the year off. Returning again at the Winter Cup this year, Lee tripped twice on the bars and once on the beam. Lee’s decision to withdraw from bars at Core Hydration Classics was a major decision. A single fault would have shattered her dreams of making it to Paris. But she displayed impeccable skills on the beam, scoring 14.6 to beat Simone Biles. 

And soon, Lee was competing in the trials, clinching the second position en route to Paris. Thus, after having an almost miraculous journey, Suni Lee would certainly like to tip it off with an Olympic victory come Paris.