Olympic Gymnastics Champion Suni Lee Overcomes Kidney Disease to Return to Top Form

Olympic gymnastics all-around champion Suni Lee has opened up about her struggles with a kidney disease last year, revealing that she questioned whether a return to top form was even possible. In a recent interview at the Team USA media summit, Lee shared the challenges she faced during her battle with the illness.

Lee described how her motivation started to wane as she dealt with the physical effects of the disease. She experienced difficulty bending her legs, squeezing her fingers, and even retained 45 pounds in water weight, causing her to look like a completely different person. Despite living with constant pain, nausea, and lightheadedness, Lee persevered through the tough times.

The 18-year-old gymnast was thrust into the spotlight at the Tokyo Games when teammate Simone Biles unexpectedly withdrew from the team final, citing mental health reasons. Lee stepped up and delivered a stellar performance, helping the U.S. team secure a silver medal. A few days later, she made history by winning the Olympic all-around title, becoming the fifth consecutive American woman to achieve the feat.

After facing setbacks during her sophomore season at Auburn University, Lee is now on track to make a comeback for the Paris Olympics. She credits her strong support system in Minneapolis for helping her stay focused on her goals and push through the challenges.

Lee’s determination to excel in the sport has not wavered, as she continues to work on new skills and aims to leave her mark on the gymnastics world. With her sights set on Paris, Lee is ready to prove to herself and the world that she is capable of achieving even greater success than before.