“I’m starting to build a lot more confidence on beam,” stated Sunisa ‘Suni’ Lee, as the 2024 Core Hydration Classic wrapped. Suni Lee famously executes two routines in competitions that captivate many fans, but she picks which to do at the last minute. Now, the gymnast’s execution of a rare skill- the Nabieva (exceptionally difficult rated ‘G’)—and the combinations of moves along with it could decide whether she walks away with another gold medal in Paris.

Last year, Lee also disclosed how her kidney-related issues hindered her training consistency and prevented her from competing in all-around events. The gymnastics community is eagerly speculating about the surprise on the bars this Olympic year since Suni did not participate in the all-around in Hartford!

Suni Lee keeps gymnastics fans longing for her rare bar skill

Lee is gearing up for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris after becoming the first Hmong American to compete and win an Olympic medal in Tokyo. Suni appeared to post her qualifying scores in the star-studded Core Classic venue on May 18. She earned 40.650 on three gymnastics events, meeting the three-event requirement with clean finishes. However, Suni opted out of her best event, Uneven Bars, which prompted a fan to inquire about her potential surprise on Reddit.

The post enquired: “I’m curious if we can maybe move away from all the emotional stuff around Suni and see what people think her routine could actually be. It occurs to me that a lot of us may not be working under the same assumptions. What do you think she is aiming for?“

The 20-year-old gymnast shocked everyone a few days ago when she posted a video of herself executing a full-twisting laid out Jaeger on the uneven bars—a move never seen in competition. Suni’s version of “The classic Jaegar,” is considered even more difficult owing to the additional full twist. Although it’s unknown what Lee plans to do in the competition, her performance generated a lot of discussion on social media among gymnasts and spectators alike.

Gymnastics nerds speculate the bars’ routine “surprise“

Taking a look at her skill set, Suni Lee can connect her extra skills, a Maloney and a Gienger, to her initial two skills, a Nabieva and a Bhardwaj, if she feels comfortable taking on the greater complexity. However, the decision isn’t so simple given it will be her second appearance, thus, one predicts, “Since Suni is a box full of unexpected surprises (I didn’t even think she was training floor), I’m going to pretend that I know the code of points as well as I did last quad and suggest a routine that we might be less likely to see coming.” 

Suni’s did manage three toe-ons in 2021, but will now need to be much more innovative to achieve equivalent scores. Hence she can’t afford many falls, on the road to Paris. This made the second commenter say, “Minor nitpick: it’s not the toe-on root skills that causes the reworks in the new code. Yes, she’s limited to 3, but that was also the case back then (and she only did 3 anyway). The big code change is the removal of D+E giving 0.2 which she basically built her entire routine around.”

“She said it was a surprise so maybe she has something in there that she hasn’t shown on Instagram and wasn’t ready before the Winter Cup. Maybe she has been secretly working on a stalker or in-bars to replace her toe-on,” predicted someone else guessing a change in her previous bars action would be paramount.

Finally, a gymnastics nerd explained the possibilities of each move, stating,  “I think the routine she wants to compete is Lee + Pak + Seitz + Bhardwaj + Maloney + Gienger // Toe Full + FTDT  HEEDDDDD = 3.8 // CV = 0.9 // Bonus = 0.2 // CR = 2.0 for a 6.9 total with all connections and an H value for the Lee. I’m suspecting the Pak + Seitz and Bhardwaj + Maloney will be connections she decides on in the moment. With a straddle jaeger and missing the above two connections, the routine should be a 6.2 ETA: Without the Seitz and Lee I think she could do Bhardwaj // VL // Blind + Jaeger + Pak + Maloney + Gienger // Toe Full + FTDT which is a 6.1 (6.0 missing Pak to Maloney or 5.8 with Giant 1/1 instead of Toe 1/1)” 

There’s a chance Suni Lee’s ground-breaking move, named “The Lee” might get codified in the gymnastics Code of Points. The official acknowledgment will follow if she can execute it at the upcoming Olympics or any major international competition.