Breaking the mold and soaring to new heights, that’s exactly what the U.S. gymnastics team did! Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, and Hezly Rivera dazzled at the gymnastics qualifying round for the 2024 Paris Olympics, racking up an astonishing 172.296. Biles led the charge with a stellar 59.566, while Lee clinched second place with 56.132. But Suni Lee’s comeback was nothing short of miraculous; once facing insurmountable odds because of kidney disease and post-depression, she found her stride again. As they say, baby steps and that’s exactly what she took to come back and win with a flourish. Credit goes to Biles’ support who acts as the light of her life.

Well, after battling post-Tokyo 2020 depression and two incurable kidney diseases, Suni Lee faced a turning point on January 4, 2024, when her doctor announced that her medications were working. This improvement reduced her need for frequent infusions and gave her reinvigorated vigor, making the Paris Olympics a realistic goal. This breakthrough allowed her to refocus on training, although it was a different experience from what she had in the past at Auburn. Returning to Midwest Gymnastics, Lee found solace in training among young gymnasts, free from the pressures of fame, with nothing but victory in her peripheral vision propeling her forward.

Overwhelmed with frustration, Lee thought, “In my head, I was already like, OK, I’m done, this is it,” fearing that this misstep would ruin her performance in other events too and potentially end her elite career. But along came her savior, her knight in shining armor, if you will. Observant as ever, Simone Biles noticed Suni Lee’s struggle and, empathizing with the situation, followed her as she walked towards the arena tunnel. Biles offered a pep talk, and her words of encouragement proved to be just what Lee needed.

“She was, like, ‘I’m not OK,” Biles recalled after the meet. Noticing Lee’s distress, Simone Biles took the opportunity to offer some much-needed encouragement. She reminded Lee to persevere, not just for herself but for the goals she had set, and emphasized her ability to tackle tough situations. “I knew she needed a boost and someone to believe in her gymnastics,” Biles said. “I wanted her to trust in her abilities and know she could handle the tough moments.” 

The encouragement worked wonders, as Suni Lee asked Biles to stay close during her next event. Simone Biles kept a watchful eye on Lee’s mental state and suggested she step back if she felt lost on her dismount. Thankfully, Lee rose to the occasion, nailing her routine on the bars with a full-twisting double tuck. And here is she at the Paris Olympics stage. But why was she depressed? Was it due to kidney disease? Well, No!

Was Suni Lee carrying the weight of the world?

Suni Lee’s foray into succumbing to depression began in 2021, following her victory at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she became the first Asian-American woman to win the all-around title. Despite her outstanding achievement, Lee’s journey took a difficult turn. She had emphatically and saddeningly bemoaned that she routinely cried herself to sleep every night. Such was the gravity of her situation, which was even compounded by her weight gain. After Tokyo, she joined the Auburn University gymnastics team and balanced her time between school and “Dancing with the Stars” in Los Angeles. The shift from elite gymnastics to collegiate competition presented its own set of challenges, as collegiate gymnastics focuses more on team performance than individual accolades.

The weight of expectations, both from others and herself, became overwhelming as she began to deal with crippling feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome. Suni Lee openly shared, “When everybody expects you to be good for Auburn, it’s really hard for me just mentally because I already put so much pressure on myself. When I have that extra pressure and stress added on, I just kind of break.” She also noted the public’s tendency to view her as a celebrity rather than a human being, stating, “A lot of times people forget that we’re human. They don’t actually look at me as a person and to kind of see that we can make mistakes, too.” Compounded by anxiety attacks and kidney disease, Lee faced numerous obstacles.

Last year, Suni Lee revealed she was grappling with two incurable kidney diseases. While medication has started to turn the tide and improve her condition, it was Simone Biles who truly made the difference. Biles, having faced her own battle with the “twisties” during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, knew exactly what Lee was going through. This highlights the fact that sometimes all you need is a little support, and for Lee, Biles was the rock that helped her navigate through the storm and get back on track.