Suni Lee has ended her NCAA gymnastics stint in the first quarter of 2023. Her issues with kidneys forced her to end the bond that had started just after her women’s all-around gymnastics victory in the Tokyo Olympics. But problems, limitations, or criticisms couldn’t keep her away from her den, the Auburn Tigers, as the coaches Jeff and Jess Graba had been thoroughly seen with her. In Paris, Lee also performed the uphill tasks, signifying her comeback while Jess Graba remained alongside her. Today, that bond with Auburn has been practiced again, but not on the gymnastics mat. 

Today in Jordan Hare Stadium, the Auburn Tigers faced the Oklahoma Sooners on the road to the SEC Championship. However, the Tigers were startled by the Sooners with the scoreline of 21-27, although a large portion of the spotlight concentrated around Suni Lee. During the break, the two-time Olympic gold medalist appeared on the field sporting her hardware from the Paris Olympics. Meanwhile, her Tigers gymnastics coach Jeff Graba joined her while the full house of Jordan Hare Stadium welcomed Lee with thunderous clappings. 

In the meantime, star quarterback Deuce Knight was also seen posing with Suni. On those sides, it was a perfect comeback to her home. The gymnastics community didn’t miss such a spectacular moment. One from that community cheered up the queen by penning on X, “War Eagle,” the chant of Auburn Tigers. The two-word battle cry speaks for Auburn’s rich history and spirit. It echoes across Tigers’ games, regardless of the sport. So, does the chant signify the urge to see Lee once again in the gymnastics fold? 

The discussion is a matter of debate, though. Last year, on April 3, the Minnesota native shared a detailed post on X, announcing her retirement from college gymnastics. However, despite focusing on ‘health and recovery’ at that moment, Suni mentioned, “I will not stop pursuing my dreams for a bid to Paris in 2024.” Now, after the Paris affair, the Olympian is standing on a base with multiple medals around her neck. And nobody can argue about the Graba brothers’ roles in helping her to achieve those. Another factor that may go in Lee’s favor is that she could never cherish the college experience as she’d pictured once. 

As her popularity escalated after the Tokyo Olympics, Suni Lee had to engage in online classes to avoid stalking. She once even said, “It was scary. I don’t know if I can talk about it.” Auburn Coach Jeff Graba addressed the situation then. But the problem did not stop fully. However, the fans have felt elated after seeing the phenomenal gymnast once again, donning the trademark orange and white. In the comment box of Auburn Football’s post, their posts have come up. 

Fans want to see Suni Lee backflip celebrating Tigers’ football 

Today the Sooners scored several touchdowns while the Tigers required scoring one such desperately. In fact, at the last moment, one such touchdown was needed to keep Suni Lee’s home team floating. But Zach Schmit made a 39-yard field goal to put the death knell. Noticing this sad end, a fan urged Suni, “If someone manages to score a touchdown today… I better see a backflip.” However, Lee didn’t indulge in that, though. She only engaged in cheering and waving to the fans. That seemed to be enough for several fans, though. 

Rather, the spectators were elated whenever they witnessed her strutting onto the field or proudly showing off her awards at Jordan Hare Stadium. One such spectator meanwhile, commented, “icon legend the moment.” That shows the love of fans for the gymnast even after she backed out from the college program. Another fan adorned Lee with the praise, “Our queen”. Such a title fits Suni Lee, not for just her achievements in elite gymnastics but also in college. 

Especially, in 2022, the gymnastics program of the Auburn Tigers achieved one of the top scores in its NCAA history riding on Suni’s performances. The memory is still fresh in fans’ minds. That led to a fan demanding, “SO… when is the statue coming and will you do another year @AuburnGym ?” That put both Suni Lee and authority in the same box to get the answers. However, is the gymnastics center going to make an attempt like this? Or will Suni Lee think again to make a comeback? What do you think?