Battling Two Kidney Diseases, Suni Lee’s Perseverance Through Paris Olympics Triumph Celebrated by Award-Winning Musician: ‘Perfect’

After the women’s balance beam final at the Paris Olympics, Sunisa ‘Suni’ Lee clarified the attitude that had been guiding her in the French capital. “This has been my redemption tour from the last Olympics,”  she said, taming the interest in the questionnaire. She further explained her goal of becoming the “normal Suni,” who had been fading away because of her battle with kidney disease and the challenges that followed. Despite these struggles, Suni Lee returned from Paris with three medals.

The gold medal came in the team final, while the two bronze medals were earned in the individual vault and uneven bars events. However, in both the team and all-around finals, Lee was considered the clear winner with the hypothetical trophy because of her choice of music for the floor exercise. The legend has it that the music’s composer has been recognized by the Billboard Music Awards!

If that fact doesn’t capture enough interest, then consider that the artist stated the music, “Eye of the Untold Her,” perfectly suits Suni Lee’s story. The composition reflects her return, overcoming all the obstacles on her path to fame. Not only that, but the artist, Lindsey Stirling, was initially surprised that the Tokyo Olympic champion gymnast would be drawn to her song. 

In an interaction with Inside Gymnastics, Stirling claimed that she had composed the song, shouting out the character of perseverance. She wanted to spread the message of winning obstacles and demolishing self-doubt. As per her, Suni Lee epitomizes those features. So Stirling does not bite her tongue while laying out, “Suni is the perfect person to embody this message.”  That statement adds the missing piece to Suni’s line, told by her after the US Olympic gymnastics trials this year. 

Before moving to the trials, the 21-year-old gymnast was making a steady recovery, both in her form and health. After waging war against her stage IV kidney disease in April last year, she spent the rest of the year away from the gymnastics mat. The situation affected her so deeply that, recollecting her dulled state from that moment, the Olympian said, “I honestly forget that I won the Olympics sometimes.”  That shows the disease leaving its effect in her mind. So when she returned to the mat, the issue worried her coaches, Jess and Jeff Graba. 

Only in January this season, she’d received a green signal from her physician to follow her dream of competing in the Paris Olympics. Still, a question mark was there regarding her full-fledged return. Keeping a question mark on Lee’s fitness, Jess Graba said, “She can pretty much do everything, but that doesn’t mean [her] mind knows it.” That was from June this year, and at the end of the month, Suni Lee stood on stage, throwing the confetti in the air, enjoying her moment after another Olympic berth. The moment made her emotional, though. 

At the same stage, she took a moment to put every emotion in her words. The teary-eyed Suni could be heard saying, “We didn’t even think that I would be here, so everything has been hitting me like a freaking roller coaster. I have not stopped crying since, but I’m just so happy. I’m so, so glad that I never gave up.” It was the same never-die attitude Lindsey Stirling has talked about. Furthermore, she has some beautiful stories that connect her with the six-time Olympic medalist. 

Suni Lee is more than a gymnast in the eyes of the artist 

Apart from being a music artist, Lindsey Sterling is also an avid follower of gymnastics. She enjoys all those stories that come with the sport, wrapped up in a not-so-glittery pack. Therefore, Suni Lee and her story of coming back didn’t go off-radar from the composer. Rather, in January, she was the first person to approach Suni to help in her cause. 

In an exclusive interview with People magazine, Lindsey said, “Back in January, I actually reached out to Suni via Instagram to see if she was looking for floor routine music.” Ultimately, the former Auburn gymnast chose “Eye of the Untold Her” from an unreleased album. In fact, away from Lindsey Sterling’s crew, Suni Lee was the first person to listen to the composition. And as they say, the rest was history. 

In Bercy Arena, Lee helped her team win the team gold, while at the individual all-around final, she came behind the names of Simone Biles and Rebeca Andrade. In both finals, the gymnast used the song on her floor for exercise and earned accolades. Calling those performances ‘magical’, Lindsey conceded, “She [Suni Lee] is a warrior and she’s overcome so much to get back to the Olympics.” That’s where the beauty lies! What do you think about this?