Suni Lee’s journey from the Tokyo Olympics to the Paris Games has been quite a rollercoaster ride, filled with ups and downs. She absolutely wowed everyone in Tokyo when she snagged gold in the women’s gymnastics individual all-around final, but things took a sharp turn when she started facing some serious health issues. After being diagnosed with two rare kidney diseases, she found herself sidelined from training, which really shook her confidence for months.

But Suni didn’t let that throw her off her game. She shared bits of her health journey with fans and managed to push through, qualifying for the Paris Games. And in Paris, she nailed it! She helped Team USA take home gold in the team final and scored bronze medals in both the uneven bars and all-around events. The pressure was intense, and Suni admitted that being the reigning Olympic champion added an extra layer of stress to the competition.

Nerves running high at the Paris Olympics

Lee was nervous in the Paris Olympics, especially with everything she was going through health-wise. Looking back, Suni realized her mindset was completely different this time compared to Tokyo. She felt rushed and not really mentally prepared for the challenges ahead. “I think that I am always really nervous, but I think this time around I was more nervous because it was having to deal with the pressure of being the reigning Olympic champion and then also dealing with the health issues and then just being scared that I wasn’t ready,” Lee told PEOPLE magazine.

“I think last Olympics, I felt a lot more ready going into it, whereas this one, I was kind of rushed and not really mentally prepared.” But despite those nerves, she was relieved that everything ended up working out in the end. “But at the end of the day, it all ended up working out, which, thank God, because I was so nervous.”

Suni’s story gives so much insight as to what athletes undergo off the field, including the disheartening time when she first saw the signs of swelling due to her illness, something doctors were not able to diagnose initially.

Suni Lee’s mission to advocate for kidney health

Suni Lee’s problems came out of nowhere like a ton of bricks. It was in February 2023 when she woke up one morning with swollen ankles, something she assumed would be a result of the rigorous training. However, this quickly worsened when the swelling spread throughout her body and added about 40 pounds.

Practical sessions turned into a real ordeal as she was unable to hold the bars because her fingers swelled. Each day passed, and her anxiety increased after having been to so many doctors they assumed it could be an allergic reaction. Unlike others, she stayed home for weeks, and as her condition persisted, it was then known that something more severe was involved.

Finally, even after enduring several harsh tests, Suni did not get answers to her questions, making her stressed. In addition to this, she also experienced hot flashes, headaches, and body cramps, especially during the night. She reached a stage where she even avoided using a mirror and was also completely alone with no friends.

Lastly, a simple urine examination suggested a possible disturbance in kidney functions. This led to further tests, and finally, the doctors told her that she had two very rare kidney diseases. After this shock, Suni opted not to continue as a sophomore gymnast at Auburn University, while at the same time, she kept her dream of representing her country in the Paris Olympics alive.

The journey to recovery was anything but smooth. There were moments when she really struggled and even considered giving up on her dreams. But Suni refused to back down. With the help of her medical team, she modified her training and slowly got back into competition. By January 2024, doctors finally gave her the green light to compete, and she started feeling more like herself again. Her hard work really paid off, proving you can bounce back from anything life throws your way!