“It feels absolutely insane,” Suni Lee said in an interview with Today right after her performance in the Paris Olympics. Despite the triumph, the young athlete’s journey was fraught with struggles. Her mental and physical health took a significant toll, leaving her unsure whether she could perform at the Olympics. Reflecting on her severe kidney disease, Suni Lee revealed, during a Team USA media summit, “My motivation started to fall. 

However, amid the challenges, Lee clinched gold in Paris with a perfect 14.800, outscoring Alegria’s Kaylia Nemour and China’s Qiu Qiyun. She also secured a bronze in uneven bars, making her the first American woman to medal twice in the event. However, recent cryptic posts on social media have sparked whispers of retirement. Is Paris the final chapter for this Olympic star? Fans are left wondering if this is the end of her remarkable journey.

Suni Lee’s recent TikTok post hints at her retirement from gymnastics

A Reddit post of r/Gymnastics, which came with the caption “Suni Reposted :(((((“ has gone viral, and fans are speculating if that is actually true. In that specific video, the caption stressed that after her final performance at the Paris Olympics, Suni said, “Last one, last one ever” when leaving after her floor exercise. This is not the first time fans got upset thinking that Suni’s retirement is coming. Before, at her lowest point, she struggled to find motivation to continue her collegiate gymnastics and announced her retirement.

Suni Reposted :(((((
byu/justboredandstuffidk inGymnastics

She once said in her interview with Today, “There were so many times where I thought about quitting and just giving up because I was so sick, and it was just so hard to stay motivated, watching everybody get better, and I’m just like I can’t even get back into the gym and constantly doubting myself.” Just pulling herself from bed each morning felt insurmountable after enduring over a year of uncertainty, depression, and setbacks while battling two potentially career-ending illnesses.

The 2019 world champion dealt with a succession of medical issues that caused her weight to be 45 pounds on her five-foot frame and kept her from practicing for months on end. Despite gaining the Tokyo Olympic all-around title, Lee was at her wit’s end and ready to leave gymnastics behind as numerous ailments attacked both her physical and mental health. This year, this 21-year-old gymnast has shown her dominance on the map as her two Bronze medals and one gold medal helped her team win at the Paris Olympics.

Even though this ‘redemption’ journey was so much appreciated by her fans, Suni’s post on the apartment searching process on Instagram with the caption “apt searching >3” is where the retirement speculations were all hinted. It may mean that she was relocating, but no one knows what’s coming. Then, when she re-posted a screenshot of some other fan’s post that said, “Any number of possibilities exist, but it could point to retirement after Paris/Olympic trials?” it made her fans puzzled. Though she directly has not said anything about her retirement, her continuous reposting of such comments without her own caption has indeed created suspense. That is why fans have started reacting to this and coming up with their own opinions. 

Fans reacted to Suni Lee’s retirement rumor

American young gymnast Suni Lee is a dominant force in the gymnastic world whose career has been inspiring. But, amidst her stellar performance at the Paris Olympics, a TikTok post sparked retirement rumors. So, many of her fans reacted to this ongoing speculation. One fan wrote uncertainly, “Yeah, I feel like predicting who will retire or not is tricky, especially with 2028 being a home Olympics. A lot of people thought Simone was unofficially retired after Tokyo, but I always believed she’d come back if she was healthy.” The fan points out that the 2028 home Olympics might influence athletes like Suni Lee to reconsider their retirement plans. They expressed how Simone Biles’ unexpected return at this year’s Olympics showed that predicting retirement is never straightforward.

Another fan became emotional and wrote, “I still remember the first video I saw of her Nabieva when she was younger and hoped she’d make it to at least one Olympics. Getting to see her at two was a gift! I’m okay with her doing whatever makes her happy, on her own terms”. This fan has followed Suni from the beginning, and the emotion here is mixed with nostalgia and gratitude. They view her career as a gift from heaven, waiting to welcome whatever choice she makes – but paying together with her happiness first and foremost.

One admirer praised her resilience and determination and wrote, “honestly i kinda expected her to retire after these games. the fact that she even made it to paris AND the all around podium was incredible for her and i think that was enough. although id love to see her go for 2028 BB podium if this it for her, i’m so grateful i got to watch her amazing career these last 8+ years!💗” Through this statement, they showcased the emotion behind her performance. Now, they are prepared for her retirement as she has given joy to them throughout her career.

Another fan commented with surprise, “with her health issues that happened, im shocked she made it to paris. if its true and she doesnt come back, its understandable.” This fan is focusing on the toll of health issues on Suni. So, through this, the fan is trying to say that even if Suni decides to retire, it is really justified because of the strain of illness. A fan reflects on the hope of seeing Suni in future events, commenting, “I can see her retiring from AA but still doing bars and beam. However, that might just be my inner Suni stan speaking because I want to see her back. At the end of the day, I just want to see her happy and thriving, she deserves the world.” This fan is torn between wishing Suni could continue competing in some capacity and recognizing that her well-being is what truly matters right now. They want to believe against all odds, but in the final analysis, they hope only Suni finds joy in whichever path she chooses.

As for Suni Lee, it’s unclear what retirement will actually look like for her. Could she become a coach, passing on all that she’s learned to younger gymnasts and working in tandem? This might be possible, as she once expressed a desire to coach at Auburn University. Or might she pursue a change in another field this month, like hairdressing? Given the uncertainty, the question remains open while Lee stays silent.