Battling 2 Kidney Diseases, Suni Lee ‘Hungrier’ Than Ever To Reclaim All Around Gold at Paris Olympics 2024

“I could not bend my legs the slightest, I couldn’t squeeze my fingers, my face was swollen” the 21-year-old said about her kidney disease earlier. Yet, on May 18th at the U.S. Classic, she defied the odds and showed her capabilities. The reigning 2020 Olympic all-around champion, Suni Lee at US Classics competed in three apparatuses only- vault, beam, and floor. Notably, she achieved the highest score on the beam, 14.600, outshining even Simone Biles, who won the US Classics but scored 14.550 on the beam.

With an impressive total score of 40.75, Suni Lee has secured her place in the all-around at nationals. This feat is especially noteworthy considering her ongoing battle with two kidney diseases, diagnosed over a year ago. Despite not participating in all four events since her last performance in February 2023, Lee remains steadfast. Expressing her readiness, she is eager to compete for the gold medal in the all-around event in Paris, as she shared with Olympics.com.

What did Lee say about her hunger for gold?

Despite showing her prowess on the bars during podium training on May 17th, it was decided by the selection committee that she wouldn’t be competing in the Uneven Bars event due to her lack of qualification for the US Championship in that category. However, with her recent qualification for the Olympics all-around, Lee’s sentiments echoed a hunger for personal achievement and fulfillment.

“I just really want to be able to do this for myself,” Lee candidly expressed when reflecting on her performance at the Classic. “I want to be able to walk away and just know that I gave everything that I had instead of just giving up and not making it.” With the U.S. Championships looming on the horizon from May 30th to June 2nd in Fort Worth, Texas, and the U.S. Olympic Team Trials scheduled for late June, the foundation for Lee’s aspirations is firmly established.

Lee finds herself embracing the possibility of contending in the all-around, a goal that wasn’t initially on the agenda. “I think at the beginning it was just like I was trying to focus on bars and beam,“ she explained. “Whereas now I’m like hungrier to be able to be in the all-around. So that’s just been the main priority.“

With each hurdle cleared, including the recent successful performance on the floor and beam under pressure, she takes a collective sigh, preparing for the journey ahead, which now includes the road to Paris. However, do you know when was the last time she performed in the all-around in any elite championship?

Fun Fact: Suni Lee is a huge fan of Justin Bieber and Harry Potter!

Suni Lee’s journey tugs at the heartstrings with every twist and turn

The last time Suni Lee competed in the all-around was at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. However, after that, she joined Auburn University. But in early 2023, Suni faced a major setback when she learned about her incurable kidney disease. That made her end her collegiate career prematurely and sit out at the U.S. Women’s Worlds Selection Camp. Despite these challenges, Suni’s comeback in August 2023 marked a significant milestone in her journey but she competed on vault and beam only.

However, on April 15, this year,  Suni Lee disclosed having not one, but two kidney diseases. Lee shared that the initial diagnosis, though daunting, proved to be a blessing in disguise. She explained, “If I had not gotten the other kidney disease, they wouldn’t have found out I had this kidney disease until later on when I had Stage IV kidney failure.“ Yet, 2024 brought new opportunities for Lee to reclaim her place in gymnastics.

In February 2024, Suni Lee was supposed to compete at the Winter Cup in Louisville, Kentucky. Unfortunately, an unexpected fall during her routine led to her withdrawal from the event. However, she didn’t still lose hope. At the American Classic in April, she showed her skill and determination once again, earning a qualifying score on the balance beam and vault. As she gears up to perform in the all-around, her inspirational journey continues to unfold, captivating hearts and minds alike.