Winning her second gold medal and two bronzes at the 2024 Paris Olympics is a moment Suni Lee will never forget. It was a powerful comeback for the USA gymnast, who called the Games her “redemption tour” after facing chronic kidney issues that nearly kept her from competing. “I’ve been trying to cut myself some slack for not being the old me,” Lee told earlier. “But since getting sick, I feel like ‘normal Suni’ is just a different person now. … Everything means so much more because I honestly didn’t think I’d make it here.”

What’s a bit surprising is that Lee wasn’t sure she would ever be able to do gymnastics or make it to the Olympics, let alone win a medal. Yet, she stunned everyone by clinching gold in the team final in Paris, proving her wrong. Just three weeks later, Lee shared some jaw-dropping news with her fans on Instagram. In a video posted in a pink leotard, she showcased a “Cheng skill” that she had perfected in training but hadn’t been able to execute during the Games.

With a touch of heartbreak, Suni Lee captioned her Instagram video, “Skills I trained but never completed, dumppp,” adding, “I was so excited about this.” The “Cheng” skill in gymnastics, named after Chinese gymnast Cheng Fei, involves a round-off onto the vault, followed by a half-twist and a front handspring off the horse. Although Lee scored a 14.866 on the uneven bars, a 14.600 on the beam, and a 13.533 on the floor routine, she didn’t compete on vault in the team final. Nonetheless, watching Suni attempt the Cheng was amazing and showed her incredible potential.

At the same time, watching Suni Lee nail the Cheng sent fans into a frenzy of happiness. Her recent post on X had everyone buzzing with excitement, and even Poor Lawyer shared the video, amplifying the buzz.

One fan couldn’t help but worry and asked, “I’m terrified she is posting these skills rn, does this mean she’s…..done? 😔😭😭” But fear not—Suni is simply showcasing her impressive talent! Lee’s retirement rumors have been swirling since last year. In 2023, she shocked fans by announcing she was stepping away from college gymnastics early to address a serious health issue.

“I have been dealing with a non-gymnastics health-related issue involving my kidneys,” she tweeted at the time. “For my safety, the medical team did not clear me to train and compete over the last few weeks. My focus at this time is my health and recovery.” Diagnosed with a rare kidney condition and experiencing significant swelling, Lee took time off to focus on her health. Thankfully, as of January 2024, her condition is in remission, and she’s nearly back to her usual training routine.

Most recently, a reddit post in r/Gymnastics with the caption “Suni Reposted :(((((“ has gone viral, leading fans to speculate about Suni Lee’s future. The video featured her emotional exit from her floor exercise at the Paris Olympics, where she said, “Last one, last one ever.” This has reignited fears of retirement, echoing past concerns when Suni struggled with motivation and announced her retirement from collegiate gymnastics due to health issues.

Holding their breath for Suni Lee’s next move

Another fan lamented, “She was coming on strong; I hope she continues for the next four years and brings it to competition.” Another added, “Does everyone think she’s done? She needs to come back full.” For now, Suni Lee has given no indication about her future, leaving fans in suspense. Another fan expressed disappointment, saying, “I’m so bummed she isn’t joining the tour,” and indeed, Suni won’t be part of Simone Biles’ Gold Over America Tour.

Starting September 16 in Oceanside, California, the tour will celebrate Biles’ incredible Olympic journey and feature other gymnasts like Jordan Chiles, Hezly Rivera, Jade Carey, and Paul Juda. With high demand, securing access to the event has become increasingly difficult.

One last fan added, “Can’t believe the dumb kidneys. “And one more added, “oh she’s sickening“. well, Suni Lee’s comeback is nothing short of inspiring! After being hit with not one, but two incurable kidney diseases in 2023, she faced what seemed like insurmountable odds. Imagine, just a few months into her diagnosis, her whole world turned upside down. From swollen ankles to feeling utterly defeated, Suni had to pause her gymnastics career and step back from Auburn University. At her lowest, she felt like she was just rotting in bed, battling both physical pain and emotional turmoil.

But here’s where the story takes a turn for the better. With support from her team, her doctors, and her coach, Jess Graba, Suni began to reclaim her life. Her doctor, Marcia Faustin, worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help Suni manage her condition. And let’s not forget Simone Biles, who gave Support when she was sure about her. With a career full of medals and moments of sheer brilliance, Lee has inspired countless people around the globe. Her journey from the early days of running to the grand stage of the Olympics is nothing short of incredible.