Before the Paris Olympics, Beyoncé, the one and only Queen Bey, made a grand entrance to pump up Team USA’s stellar athletes. With her signature flair, she declared, “On behalf of Team USA, we gon’ make it do what it do, YA YA!” The athletes, including the powerhouse women’s gymnastics team, were buzzing with excitement. When Beyoncé called out, “Hello girls,” the team lit up with a resounding, “Hello, Beyoncé!” among them was Sunisa ‘Suni’ Lee, who couldn’t help but beam at the sight of the 32-time Grammy winner.

Fast forward three months, and Suni found herself reliving that magic at Glamour’s Woman of the Year awards, where she had another chance to meet Beyoncé! The two shared a heartfelt hug, with Queen Bey congratulating Suni on her achievements in Paris. It was a moment that Suni cherished, one that made her reflect on her Olympic journey.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight on the red carpet, Suni opened up about her emotions. “It’s crazy to be here, but I’m so grateful,” she said, acknowledging the whirlwind of feelings from her time at the Olympics. Even though two months have passed since her last Olympic competition, where she faced a tough fall from the balance beam and scored a 13.100, the memories and connections linger. So, what keeps Suni tied to her Paris experience?

Suni Lee poured her heart and soul into securing a spot on the final lineup for the women’s gymnastics team, and her efforts paid off as she pushed herself to the limit at the Paris Olympics. Given her challenging journey, it’s no surprise that her determination shines bright. After battling two serious kidney illnesses that sidelined her for a significant chunk of the previous season, she came back with a vengeance, clinching three medals at the Olympics. Reflecting on all these experiences makes her ‘a little bit emotional,’ highlighting just how far she’s come.

Even during her toughest times, Suni kept whispering to herself that she was destined for greatness at the Paris Olympics. But her path wasn’t without hurdles. She had to retire from college gymnastics in mid-2023, a move that left her fans in the NCAA heartbroken. Her exit from Auburn Gymnastics was a significant change, but for Suni, stepping away from elite gymnastics was never on the table. So, what kept her going? Suni insists it wasn’t solely about the Paris Olympics.

Suni Lee’s triumph at the Paris Olympics was the need of the hour 

This year, on January 4, Suni Lee received a phone call. She didn’t disclose the actual conversation of that phone call. But it revitalized her. After the phone call, Lee started to show up in the Auburn gym to compete under her long-time coach, Jeff Graba, and his twin brother, Jess Graba.

Later, giving some excerpts of her emotions caused by the magical phone call, the three-time world championship medalist said, “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m going back into the gym tomorrow and I’m going to be better than I ever was.’ That was the day I was like, ‘Yep, this is what I want. And I’m gonna put my mind into it.’” However, there was another extraordinary reason driving Suni to meet her goals at the Paris Olympics. 

In her conversation with Glamour magazine, Suni admitted having responsibilities as an ambassador of gymnastics. As per her, that put a weight on her. She further added, “There are so many little girls in the gym that look up to me, and I just felt I was kind of letting them down, because I wasn’t able to do a lot of things.” It’s clear that the pressure to inspire the next generation weighed heavily on her shoulders.

But in the heart of Paris, Suni found her moment to rise above those expectations. She returned from the City of Lights with three shiny medals, including two individual ones. This comeback story is a testament to her resilience and determination, and it’s easy to see why this experience was so emotional for her.