From 2 incurable kidney diseases to professional glory and so much more. These exemplify Suni Lee. Sunisa Lee was already well-known worldwide when she enrolled at Auburn University in the fall of 2021. She had considerable expectations since she was the first Asian-American woman to take the Olympic all-around championship. But Lee’s time at college was hardly like she had imagined. Suni Lee just made a sincere confession about her experience at Auburn. Also, she expressed her emotional response to those memories in an NCAA tweet.

Lee had a very difficult time making the switch from Olympic winner to college student. She battled isolation and the demands of stardom despite her achievements. Her open observations highlight the difficulties that professional players have juggling their studies and athletics.

The NCAA shared a heartfelt tweet featuring a video of Lee viewing moments from her stint at Auburn Gymnastics. In the video, Lee had an emotional response. Sunisa Lee felt a strong surge of nostalgia as she harkened back to her days at Auburn. “Oh my gosh, that just brought me such flashbacks,” She fondly remembered. “I miss Auburn.”

Lee treasured the friendships particularly, recalling the excitement of tournaments and the pleasure of working out every day with her colleagues. She remarked, “Definitely all of the competitions; they were all so fun.” It changed Lee’s life to have inspirational teammates. “Coming in training every single day with the girls was absolutely amazing. I’m not used to having teammates like that.” The 21-year-old stated, “So having other girls in the gym to help uplift you when you can’t do it yourself, it’s just incredible.” Auburn developed into more than simply a training ground, it became a way of life for the girls.

However, her emotions about feeling like an outsider starkly contrasted with what she had said before. Lee had mentioned in a conversation how hard it was to get used to college life and the lack of assistance from her colleagues. “I just really felt like an outcast, almost. They didn’t treat me that well.” She admitted, “I just knew that I couldn’t trust them.” However, Suni Lee has come a long way.

Suni Lee’s thoughts on facing odds

Lee had difficulties that went beyond social dynamics. She had serious health problems, one of which was a chronic kidney condition that surfaced in April of last year. The problem made her give up gymnastics in college, which added to her already hefty load. Sunisa Lee talked candidly about her pre-competition routines and the mental techniques she uses to maintain focus in a recent interview with Fortune. “I’m feeling so much in the moment,” Lee answered.

Additionally, she talked about making a list of keywords and reminding herself of her goals. “I like to write down my keywords, trying to remember my why, things that I need to remember when I’m out there competing,” she said. To regulate her anxiety before tournaments, Lee also stressed the value of affirmations and deep breathing. “Simple things like just telling myself affirmations and to breathe because that’s something that I struggle with when I’m competing,” she continued, underlining the struggles she faces on a personal level.

Suni Lee was serious about getting back to the top of the gymnastics world despite all of this. She targeted the Olympic trials while carefully engaging with her medical team to manage her condition. “It was more than my return to elite gymnastics,” She wrote. “It was me proving to myself that I can overcome hard things, and to hopefully inspire others to never let life’s setbacks stop you from going after your dreams.” Thus, as Suni Lee prepares for the Paris trip, her memories will be filled with more such moments.