Before the cannonizing glory before the world’s eyes in Paris 2024, the athletes must beg for support from the fans. The round of applause resounding within an arena is the perfect stepping stool for an athlete to gain the confidence and reach for the stars. Also, among these Olympic hopefuls is Suni Lee, whose fervour for repeat jollification at the big event seemed somewhat dim.
Throughout 2023, former Olympians and Paralympians appeared during multiple iterations of Sunday Night Football to be at the receiving end of America’s paean. However, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics all-around gold medalist stayed away from such an event in a cryptic happenstance. However, in a sudden twist, Sunisa Lee walked out onto the field during the recent Packers versus Vikings match, but her Olympic campaign is still doubtful.
Sunisa Lee’s Olympic campaign shrouded in mystery
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An article from last year on The Sporting News analyzed the verity of Sunisa Lee’s Olympic campaign amidst her health struggles. Citing the example of her unavailability to play in Auburn University’ final home meet against the War Eagles, the media giant highlighted the complicated nature of her medical problems. Although then, Sunisa Lee did not delve deeper into the nature of her troubles and only mentioned that she was dealing with kidney issues. Fast forward to the present and we know more about her current health condition. The Minnesota native suffers from an undisclosed incurable kidney problem that exhibits itself in a couple of gut-wrenching symptoms and current wear and tear has made her reach an impasse.
In an exclusive on SELF Magazine, Sunisa Lee noted down her health complications, which began with a harmless swelling in the ankles. Thereafter, the swelling spread to her face, legs and hands. This affected her gymnastics as she “couldn’t even do a normal kip cast to handstand on bars”. In a matter of days, Lee had gained 40 pounds of weight and was feeling miserable. Suni Lee was forced to bid farewell to her gym mates at Auburn University prematurely. Now, she won’t be part of the Auburn squad for the NCAA 2024 season in lieu of her elite gymnastics contention.
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Sunisa Lee’s resilience shines
Sunisa Lee rocked a casual look with an oversized jacket and a pair of denim at the recent NFL matchup between the Packers and the Vikings. She underscored her Sunday Night Football appearance in Minnesota by cheering for her home team. With her spirited chants for the Vikings, Lee eliminated all doubts about her vitality. Many could not believe that this was the same gymnast who said, “I’m just not the same athlete I was before”.
Read More: Two Years After Winning Olympic Gold Sunisa Lee Receives an Unlikely Message
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Sunisa Lee showcased her resilience at the 2023 U.S. Classic and the U.S. National Gymnastics Championships. However, these exertions restarted her health troubles. In the Olympic year, although no official update has come from Lee, her Olympic campaign remains uncertain.
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