Despite Kidney Issues and Bouts of Self-Doubt Sunisa Lee Bags the One Thing She Truly Came For

The U.S. Classic currently underway in Chicago is the biggest comeback event of the year. Major names in the sport of gymnastics are looking to make a comeback and shake the competition. One of these aspiring trailblazers is 20-year-old Sunisa Lee. The artistic gymnast has come back to be on the mats after a long hiatus, attributable to her severe health issues.

However, it seems like nothing fazes Sunisa Lee. She came into the arena after a long break and stunned the world by achieving exactly what she came for. Lee’s performance at the U.S. Classic 2023 has proved her mettle in the world of gymnastics. Her achievement comes after a long battle with kidney disease.

Sunisa Lee qualifies for the next big event

A Tweet from the official handle of Team USA broke the happy news. The young gymnast has qualified for the Nationals after getting a score of 13.5 on the vaults. The achievement is a big one, especially after the hurdles that Sunisa Lee had to conquer to reach here. Despite the setbacks she faced, this was ultimately what the 20-year-old was hoping and aiming for. With her hard work, she has clinched her dream.

Her journey was made difficult by her health problems and a dash of self-doubt right before her big comeback. After bagging the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gymnastics all-around gold, things started to go downhill for Lee in February. Kidney-related health issues meant that she had to leave the gymnastics season at Auburn University midway. Her training schedules were also negatively hampered by the sudden onset of the disease. However, in the past five months, Lee has been making her way back to her old self.

Read more: ?In & Out of Gym Due to My Kidneys?: Struggling With Health, US Gymnastics Star Suni Lee Gives an Upsetting Update

According to her coach, Sunisa Lee was concentrating on only a couple of events for her comeback at the U.S. Classic. Leaving the floor exercises completely, Lee and her coach decided to concentrate on the vault and bars. The vault is ultimately what paved the way for the Nationals. After she is able to build up her stamina to the fullest, Lee aims to claim the all-around title at the nationals, which will take place later in August. With the daring she has displayed, it is not an impossible notion.

The makings of a courageous champion

While Simone Biles was out of running due to her mental health, Sunisa Lee was struggling with her body. As she told Olympics.com, “I have been in and out of the gym just because there?s just so many doctor?s appointments, and I?m taking a lot of medication…” Nonetheless, Sunisa Lee has been fighting with her fate to make sure she is able to train whenever she can. Her determination has ensured her qualifications for the Nationals.

According to her, “I could wake up very swollen some days and not be able to put my fingers inside my grips. It?s really difficult to kind of work through, but on the days that I can do stuff and I am feeling good, I try and take advantage of that and just get everything done.” With a mindset like this, it is no surprise that Sunisa Lee absolutely conquered at the U.S. Classic, and immortalized her dream to be at the U.S. Nationals.

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