“There were so many times when I thought about quitting and just giving up because I was so sick,” Suni Lee shared after qualifying for the Paris Olympics. Despite her struggles with kidney disease, Lee turned to her comfort zone: the uneven bars. This event, where she feels most at home, became her sanctuary and a place for innovation. Her comeback culminated in a bronze medal, marking a triumphant return to form.

From debuting on the U.S. Junior National Team at just 14 to facing this major comeback, Lee has always impressed. At the Paris Olympics, her performance on the uneven bars, especially in a red uniform that stirred some concern due to the “red-leo curse,” was a highlight of her redemption tour.

Suni Lee’s comeback performance finally lifted the Red Leo curse

After the unexpected bronze medal win, Suni Lee did not take much time to post humorously on her X, saying, “can officially say i broke my red leo curse!!😆😆.” It was Suni Lee who grabbed the limelight by competing in uneven bars at the Paris Olympics final, even after performing in that red leotard uniform. As she never found much success with that specific uniform, fans started to call it a curse to her success. But this time, the tables turned for 21-year-old Suni Lee. She secured another bronze medal at the Summer Games, scoring 14.80 while wearing the same red uniform.

After her initial bronze in the team all-around and uneven bars, she finally broke the red-leo curse. In that event, China’s Qiu Qiyuan earned silver with a score of 15.5, while 17-year-old Algerian Kaylia Nemour clinched gold with a standout performance, scoring 15.7. However, Suni Lee’s journey to the Paris Olympics was not without challenges. In 2023, this NCAA beam and SEC uneven bar champion woke up with swollen ankles. While at first she thought it happened because of intense training, her concern grew as the swelling went to her hands, legs, and face. On that note, she told Self Magazine, “I just kept getting more swollen, and I think I gained, like, 40 pounds.”

After that, she learned about her kidney disease and felt like she wouldn’t make it to the Olympics. But Lee’s comeback and success at the Paris Olympics made her one of the best gymnasts in the world. Her bronze helped her team, the USA, secure gold all around. The bronze medal is another honor for 21-year-old Suni Lee at this year’s Summer Games. It marks a remarkable return after battling two types of kidney disease over the past year. “We didn’t think I’d be here,” Lee told Hoda Kotb on the “Today” show before the Olympics. “There were so many times I thought about quitting because I was so sick. It was hard to stay motivated, watching others improve while I struggled just to get back in the gym.”

On Tuesday, Lee earned her first gold medal of the Games in the team all-around with Simone Biles. This success came just a year after she suddenly gained over 40 pounds and learned she had kidney disease. Lee took a break to focus on her health before returning to training for the Paris Olympics. “I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it,” Lee said Thursday. She also retained her spot on Team USA earlier this year. “This comeback means more than just returning to elite gymnastics,” Suni Lee wrote on Instagram last August. After her standout performance, despite health issues and wearing the red uniform, fans began to see it as mere superstition. Suni Lee proved she’s a great performer, turning doubt into triumph.

Fans go crazy over the American gymnast’s comeback performance at uneven bars

The 7X Olympic medalist Suni Lee’s strong finish on the uneven bars got her so many fan reactions. Even after having the curse of wearing red at major events, she successfully proved that you can surpass everything with hard work. Therefore, after the major bronze win at the Paris Olympics, one fan reacted with concern: “Red leo + no warm up fall scared me to death ngl.” This reaction indicates fans were skeptical about Suni Lee’s performance after her health issues. Through the response, it is clearly seen that the fan was worried about the potential negative result.

Another fan commented with a rollercoaster of emotion, “Me too I was like “damn she might be toast on this one” and then almost cried 😩”. This fan’s anxiety turned into tears of joy as Suni Lee, who had previously won 2021 all-around gold and Olympic team gold, secured a medal despite the odds. Overcoming severe kidney disease and the supposed “red-leo curse,” Lee’s comeback transformed fears into celebration, highlighting her incredible resilience and talent.

The next admirer commented on her comeback, “Suni Lee getting back up after falling, eventually nailing her routine ❤️ She won bronze in uneven bars at the Olympics today after a year of dealing with kidney disease and mental health,” showcasing concern and appreciating the stunning performance Lee gave even after dealing with severe health problems. One fan reacted emotionally: “the wind got knocked out of me just from watching omg,” saying that Lee’s comeback was so emotional for everyone that her win felt like a physical blow, which gave everyone a positive shock. Her win felt like a physical jolt, delivering a powerful, positive shock that resonated with everyone.

One other Suni Lee’s fan expressed joy for Lee’s much-awaited success, saying, “So happy for Suni. What an amazing accomplishment.  I must say, however, that I am dying to see the full twisting Yager.” This statement showed fans’ appreciation of her great achievement and desire to watch her again make history in gymnastics. As fans express their thoughts on Suni Lee’s recent performance, will this bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics perform like a queen in the upcoming event? What’s your thought on this? Let us know in the comments section below!