Suni Lee’s Absence Raises Questions for USA Gymnastics Amid Spring International Assignments: “I’m Surprised”

With the Olympic Games only five months away, the road to Paris is gaining momentum every day. Ahead of the big rumble at the French capital, the USA gymnastics squad will have to face several smaller challenges to secure their spot in the national team. Along with the others, Auburn Tigers’ star Suni Lee also bolstered her claim once again at the recently held Winter Cup. And yet, her accolades seem to remain unnoticed by the country’s apex body and her fans can’t swallow the pill without flinching.

Lee has been riding a high horse with eyes on immortality among the gymnastics brethren. Trying to get a new move named after herself, the three-time Olympic medalist is set to step foot among the elites of the sport. Probably that’s what makes her recent absence from the national team list all the more surprising.

Suni Lee absent from the star-studded list

In a recent post, captioned, “International assignments are here!”, on Instagram by the official USA Gymnastics account, the athletes to represent the country in the upcoming international tournaments have been announced. The end of the first week of March will see the Baku World Cup commence, while the following week will witness the world’s top gymnastics talents congregate for the DTB Pokal in Germany. The stakes get another raise in April with the Doha World Cup beckoning aspiring Olympians to show their mettle on another international stage.

While the list boasts multiple national sensations including the eight-time Pan American Championships Yul Moldauer and the up-and-coming women’s gymnastics star Reese Esponda, it mysteriously omits Suni Lee’s name. While Lee’s recent slip-up at the 2024 Winter Cup saw her expressing her frustration to her fans, it’s only normal that she wants to make the most of every opportunity that comes her way on the road to Paris. And yet, with Suni out of the national team for the imminent Baku World Cup, her fans can’t help but clamor about the matter.

Fans highlight their disapproval

Since the list was announced, the country’s gymnastics fans all flocked to make their displeasure heard. One fan commented “I’m surprised“, obviously stunned to learn that some of the country’s top talents including Lee have been left out of the national team. Jill on the other hand is more concerned about the bigger stake and wrote, “Where is Suni? She needs to get her skill named!“.

Read more: “Wasn’t What I Wanted”: Devastating Fall Makes Suni Lee Cheer Herself Up With a Bold Winter Cup Claim

Logan is also flummoxed by Team USA’s decision and seems to be at a loss of words. “No Suni… oh wow“, commented the fan. Gabby thinks Suni deserves a spot in the team, and so do some others. “No trinity?? No Kayla?? No Suni??“, wrote Gabby in the comments section. Another fan also believes Trinity Thomas and Suni Lee should have received their tickets to Baku: “Where’s Suni and Trinity?” With so many fans making their feelings abundantly clear, it waits to be seen how the USA fairs at the upcoming tournaments with promises of Olympic glory on the horizon.