Suni Lee and Hezly Rivera had a Paris Olympics campaign that’ll be hard to forget! As part of the “Golden Girls,” they helped Team USA clinch its fourth Olympic title in women’s gymnastics. Suni, stepping into her second Olympics after snagging three shiny medals in Tokyo, decided to keep the momentum going and racked up three more in Paris. Not too shabby, right? Then there was Hezly, who was not only a rookie at the Olympics but also the youngest member of the U.S. team at just 16.

She competed in the qualification round in the team category, which made her eligible for the gold despite not participating in the finals. So, even though she didn’t compete in the finals, she walked away with the title of the youngest American to win gold in any sport. But it wasn’t just about the bling for Hezly. She found a friend and mentor in the fabulous Suni Lee who shared valuable insights from her own Olympic debut experience!

At 21, Suni Lee was just a few years older than 16-year-old Hezly Rivera, and she took it upon herself to mentor her during the Paris Olympics. Suni noticed that Hezly was super quiet around her teammates and took everything a bit too seriously. So, in true big-sister fashion, Suni decided to change that vibe and started hanging out with Hezly, which even eased her fears!

In an interview with GLAMOUR, Suni Lee opened up about the bond she formed with Hezly Rivera during the Paris Olympics. The duo started taking walks together, grabbing coffee, and making TikTok videos all day. Suni shared, “She’s very quiet in the gym, so we would try and crack jokes. I’m like, ‘You can laugh a little in the gym. It doesn’t have to be serious all the time.’” And Hezly?

She was incredibly grateful for Suni’s support, especially during the whirlwind of the Olympics. Hezly even reached out to the magazine in an email, expressing her appreciation: “She always reminded me to take a step back and just simply soak in the moment.” She added, “It helped me appreciate every aspect of my first Olympics experience and recognize how special it was. She is not only a mentor to me but a friend.”

While being a friend off the court, Suni Lee also took the initiative to praise and motivate Hezly Rivera during her performances. Hezly’s impressive showing in the qualification rounds secured her a spot in the team finals, a monumental achievement, especially as the youngest member of the squad.

According to Inside Gymnastics, after Hezly’s performance, Suni beamed, saying, “Big sister is proud of you!”  While it might seem like a small gesture, it was a powerful boost for Hezly, who was still finding her footing on such a grand stage. Suni Lee’s empathy likely stems from her own challenging journey into the Paris Olympics, which could be argued as one of the toughest the athlete has faced.

Suni Lee’s incredibly tough journey to reach the Paris Olympics

In 2023, Suni Lee received the devastating news of her kidneys being affected by diseases. There was barely any chance of her returning to the mat ever again. After that, she decided to retire from her collegiate career, sending shockwaves throughout the community.

But the gymnast still wanted to compete at the Paris Olympics and tried to do everything in her power to fulfill her dream. However, it was becoming increasingly tough for her to complete ordinary day-to-day tasks. “Bars, floor, and vault were really hard for me because I couldn’t even walk up a flight of stairs,” she said.

Her coaches had to be on standby with buckets, as Suni Lee could start throwing up at any moment. But according to her, that wasn’t the hardest part. The real challenge was battling her own increasing doubts each day. She admitted, “The hardest thing was just waking up and going to the gym, forcing myself, because a part of me was just so embarrassed and ashamed to show my face.”

Suni felt like she was letting down all the young athletes who looked up to her at her gym. But despite these challenges, she pushed through and made her way to Paris. Forged by fire, her journey is one of the many inspiring stories for Team USA from this year’s Olympics, proving that sometimes the real gold is in overcoming your own struggles.