Amidst Retirement Speculations, Champion Gymnast Suni Lee Opens Up About the Horrors of Debilitating Kidney Disease

The journey of Suni Lee, the Tokyo 2020 all-around gold medalist, has been marked by resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Over the past year, she has navigated the challenges of a kidney-related health concern, which not only ended her NCAA career at Auburn University prematurely but also interrupted her aspirations for international competition. Despite these setbacks, Lee persevered and regained a consistent rhythm to her training during the Winter Cup season 2024.

Her comeback was thwarted by an unfortunate injury sustained during a warm-up session. Adding to the suspense, she is poised to execute the Full Twisting Jaeger at the Olympics. Despite swirling rumors of retirement, Lee remains resolute in her pursuit of Olympic glory.

How she balances gymnastics stardom with self-care exercise

In a compelling exclusive interview with E! News on March 22nd, Suni Lee, the 21-year-old star of gymnastics, illuminated her steadfast commitment to athletic excellence and the profound importance she places on self-nurturance within the demanding realm of elite gymnastics.

As she aims to clinch a coveted spot on Team USA for the imminent 2024 Olympics in Paris, Suni knows the vital role of maintaining both consistency and diligent attention to her own well-being. As Suni trains for the Olympics, she reflects on her path. She emphasizes making time for herself, acknowledging that both mental and physical health is crucial for success. “The kidney disease took me out for couple of months,” Suni explained.

“I just got a lot weaker because I wasn’t in the gym training—I’ve been doing a lot of physical therapy and try to keep my body as healthy as possible and feeling good because it’s gonna be a really long season.” Additionally, after facing a setback with a kidney disease, she’s diligently working on regaining her strength through nearly eight hours of daily training. But the question persists is it retiring?

Is Suni Lee secretly retiring?

The retirement intrigue began with an innocuous Instagram story from Lee. She showcased an apartment interior, captioned simply with “apt searching <3.” This seemingly benign post set off a flurry of speculation, particularly on platforms like Reddit. Users speculated that Lee’s apartment hunt might signal a forthcoming retirement.  This isn’t the first time her career has faced uncertainty.

Last year Lee’s struggles began with a puzzling onset of bodily swelling, rendering her incapable of effectively training on the gymnastics equipment. Her fingers, too swollen to grip properly, betrayed her efforts. As weeks passed, her body ballooned, confounding both her and her doctors, who initially suspected an allergic reaction. The relentless swelling, coupled with a weight gain of around 40 pounds which affected not only her physical appearance but also her psychological well-being.

Despite numerous medical tests yielding no definitive answers. Then Dr. Faustin, Lee’s physician, inquired about her recent urine test. Through that, she discovered her kidney disease. Now that she’s better and ready for her Olympic journey. It will be interesting to see her in Paris in 2024.

Read More: Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas Make List of 22-Year-Old Recently Transferred LSU Athlete: “Greater Because of Her”