Simone Biles is an unstoppable force, and that is the prevailing opinion! It is also a given that Suni Lee is among this year’s embellished roster of the formidable five women. Among all the personalities rolling up their sleeves for the final countdown, Suni Lee is going by the adage -“go big or go home.”The Olympian has made significant strides, from practicing gymnastics at a nascent age to standing atop the list of the 100 most influential people, to being the first Hmong-American to represent the USA at the Olympics. She has done it all! Not to mention the fact that she’s kicked two incurable kidney diseases to the curb as well.

Hailed as an aspiring gymnast at 6, she won the all-around title at 7, and represented the USA at 11, Suni Lee’s gymnastic journey has been a wild ride. Lee debuted on the international stage in 2019 with an astonishing win. Shining in her glory in Tokyo, Lee won a jaw-dropping three medals. Tokyo was a tricky year for the USA gymnastics team after Simone Biles’ withdrawal because of mental health woes. Suni Lee came in clutch though to keep Biles’ honor intact. Now as we head to the 2024 Olympics, what is Lee bringing to the table and does it involve usurping Simone Biles?

Will Suni Lee be able to forge her legacy in the ‘City of Lights’

A gymnastic fan account named ‘Poor Lawyer’ tweeted on X today, July 15th, 2024, describing how Suni Lee’s triumphs in Paris can move a step closer to top-ranking entities like Biles and Shannon Miller. The tweet mentioned, “Sunisa Lee is currently the 9th most decorated U.S. Olympic female gymnast of all time. If she wins one gold in Paris, she’ll be 6th! If she wins 3 medals in Paris, she’ll be 4th (behind Biles, Miller and Raisman)! If she wins 4 medals, she’ll challenge Miller for 2nd!”  

Suni Lee is rising through the ranks, gymnastics afficionados. The 2024 season is going to be a crucial year for both gymnasts. While all eyes are on Simone Biles as she sails for her Olympic comeback, it is a very crucial season for Lee as well as she gets a chance to rectify the red in her ledger! The world witnessed her gymnastic prowess and resilience at the Tokyo Olympics. As she toils further for her ‘Paris Olympic dreams’ 2024 season, it is notable that every medal will take her a step closer to a historic achievement.

Simone Biles is a legend, and that’s unequivocal. But Lee’s action plan may reign supreme, who knows? As the user mentioned in his tweet, Lee’s current position in the list of top US female gymnasts is 9th with three Olympic medals. The other top-ranked gymnasts, such as Aly Raisman, have six medals, while Simone and Miller have seven each. If the American gymnast manages to secure one medal in the Paris season, her ranking will rise to sixth.

Competing further, if Lee managed to secure three medals, she would stand just a step behind gymnastics stars like Biles, Miller, and Raisman. Going forward, if Lee manages to secure four Olympic medals this season, then she will be competing with Miller for the second rank. It will be intriguing to watch how the tryst will unfold for Lee. Why did she take a short break though? Let’s find out!

 When Suni Lee faced a downfall – a look see

Suni Lee’s professional growth is remarkable, right from her Auburn Days to competing for Team USA, she had a good run until a debilitating news came swinging her way. It all began in February 2023, when Suni Lee woke up one morning with swollen ankles, thinking it was an allergic reaction, but there was more to the story than meets the eye! The prognosis was such that she was hardly able to wake up from the confines of her bed.

She gained 40 pounds, and opening up about her health conditions, she claimed, “I just kept getting more swollen…and I think I gained, like, 40 pounds.” Lee added, “My fingers were so swollen, and I couldn’t even do a normal kip cast to handstand on bars.” After seeking medical assistance, the Tokyo Olympic supremo was diagnosed with an incurable kidney disease, which had a significant impact on her prospects. She even joined forces with the American Kidney Fund to become a harbinger of this perennial problem.

Lee decided to prematurely end her sophomore season in April 2023, followed by her retreat from crucial competitions like the World Championship and Pan American Games. Lee explained her reasons for withdrawal as, “It was a very difficult decision, but my health is more important, and I’m not in the best shape right now.”

Suni Lee is now concentrating on her health and training as she prepares for the upcoming Olympics. Simone and Lee proclaimed Paris as their ‘redemption trip.’ It will be interesting to see how it works for Lee and whether she manages to claim the top ranks or not. How do you feel about it? Let us know in the comments below!