It’s time for a change! Not we’re not the ones saying it but USAG, as they’ve reportedly dropped a new rule regarding qualification to the US Championships! Fans definitely think it’s going to benefit Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee. But will it, really? Let’s read on to find out…

According to Reddit fans, USA Gymnastics’ Women’s Program 2025 Elite Qualification rules seem to have been adjusted. Possibly starting in 2025, USA Gymnastics will implement four new rules for qualifying for major events. First, the International Elite Committee (IEC) will set the Junior and Senior qualification scores for the Winter Cup, American Classic, U.S. Classic, and U.S. Championships right after the U.S. Championships each year. Secondly, the qualification scores for the Winter Cup, American Classic, and U.S. Classic will undergo reassessment by February 10, 2025, to determine if any revisions are needed. Thirdly, the qualification score for the U.S. Championships will be re-evaluated following the conclusion of the American Classic, potentially leading to adjustments based on assessments made.

However, the fourth rule could really help Suni Lee out a lot! To qualify for the U.S. Championships, with vault as part of her score in 2 or 3 events, she and other athletes must do two family vaults in the Winter Cup, American Classic, or U.S. Classic. The combined score from these two vaults will count towards her qualification score.

As per the official release, the rule states, “If the athlete utilizes Vault as part of her 2 or 3-event qualification score to U.S. Championships, she must perform two (2) vaults from different families at Winter Cup, American Classic, or U.S. Classic. The average of the two vault scores will count toward the total 2 or 3-event qualification score.”

And as expected, Redditors didn’t take long before commenting their theories and insights on the matter.

Fans weigh in on the new changes

One fan pointed out, “I think even more notably, Suni also comfortably achieved the 2-event score at US Classic even if you don’t count vault (she had a combined 27.6 on BB/FX; 1.2 higher than the 2-event qualifying score). Of course you can’t discount the fact that she’d already gotten the 2-event score at American Classic using VT/BB, and based on the way she and her coach were talking during that time, being able to get that 2-event score with the 2 lower-endurance events was a very important part of their process.”

Suni Lee kicked off her 2024 season at the Winter Cup, but it was a bit of a tough start for her. She struggled on the uneven bars and balance beam, missing a key element and a release move, which led to a score of just 11.800 on bars. She faced challenges on the balance beam as well when attempting an aerial maneuver and slipped off before completing it successfully, which affected her final score of 12.900. This placed her in a tie for a 26 position on the bars and 13th on the beam. Since these were the two events in which she participated. Luckily though, things turned around for her at the American Classic competition!

Suni Lee’s comeback at the Core Hydration Classic was a moment after her first performance on the floor after the Tokyo Olympics. She showcased her skills in three events. Vault, balance beam, and floor exercise. While she faced some challenges during her floor routine, the young gymnast persevered and earned a score of 13.00. On vault, she executed a flawless landing, resulting in a score of 13.150. The best part of her day was when she claimed a place on the balance beam after the scores were reevaluated. She managed to outperform her former Olympic teammate Simone Biles!

At the Xfinity US Gymnastics Championships, Suni Lee took on four apparatuses in elite competition for the first time but encountered some challenges along the way. Competing with downgraded routines, she even had a fall on the vault, which tested her resolve. Despite these setbacks, Lee showcased her talent and determination, finishing fourth in the all-around with a score of 55.570. This put her just behind Kayla DiCello, Skye Blakely, and Simone Biles. However, she still managed to secure a silver medal on the balance beam, proving her resilience and skill.

Lee’s outstanding performance led to her selection for the U.S. National Team and an opportunity to compete in the trials, where she placed second in all-around, uneven bars, and balance beam before securing a spot on the U.S. team for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Another fan added, “It’s crazy that they would make a change the year Suni ramps up from 3 event qualification to 2nd at trials and then the bronze at the Olympics. She basically set the template for someone returning from injury / illness and being able to peak at the events that matter.” One more fan added, “Suni did do bars at Winter Cup. It didn’t go well. She never tried to do all four in one event before nationals, which is why she got to petition to do AA and Gabby didn’t.”

In her recent competitions, Gabby Douglas faced difficulties. At the American Classic, she finished second on vault but struggled on the uneven bars and floor exercise, ultimately scoring below the required all-around qualification score. Moreover, when she competed at the Core Hydration Classic, Douglas fell twice on the uneven bars and withdrew from the rest of the event. This performance likely hindered her ability to meet the new standards that favor athletes who can compete across all apparatuses effectively. In contrast, Suni Lee managed to strategically navigate these requirements by focusing on select events and successfully petitioning for the all-around, putting her in a more advantageous position as they both aim for Olympic spots.

Another fan added, “Vault is also a very easy way to squeeze out a qualification score. As long as you land on your feet it gets you a good chunk of the way there. It’s why Suni started out doing vault and beam this year. Short event, easy base score. I can see why they’d want to avoid that moving forward.”

One more Redditor theorized, “Very interesting change. I’m pretty sure everybody who qualified as a 2/3-eventer to champs last year used Vault as one of their events. According to thegymter.net, Marissa Neal in 2022 (UB, BB) is the only gymnast to have qualified to nationals without vault in the ’22-’24 Olympiad. Suni also achieved the 2-event qualifying score this year on BB/FX, but I think she’s the only 3-event qualifier who had a 2-event score without vault.” But considering what Suni has gone through, it was crucial for her!

In 2023, Suni shocked her fans when she decided to retire early from college gymnastics to focus on her health. She shared on Twitter, “I have been dealing with a non-gymnastics health-related issue involving my kidneys. For my safety, the medical team did not clear me to train and compete over the last few weeks.” She experienced strange swelling all over her body; doctors found out she had not just one, but two rare forms of kidney disease. That’s when she knew she had to step away from school and really focus on getting better.

By January 2024, Suni received some encouraging news from her doctor, and by April, she announced that her kidney disease was in remission. During a media summit, she said, “I’m feeling a lot better… I don’t want to peak too early, but I feel like I’m getting back on track.” She even mentioned feeling stronger than she did during the last Olympics. Talk about a comeback! Suni has credited her medical team and her strong support system for helping her through this tough time. Suni’s story shows us just how resilient she is, proving that with determination and the right support, you can overcome anything life throws your way.