The USA Gymnastics team announced on Tuesday the return of gymnast Suni Lee to the squad for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Lee, who’s 23 years old, has participated in both the 2020 Tokyo Games and the 2024 Paris Games. In 2020, she earned a gold medal in the all-around, a silver medal in the team, and a bronze medal in the uneven bars.
During the Paris Games, Lee won a gold medal in the team event and a bronze in both the all-around and uneven bars.
Lee almost didn’t participate in the 2024 Games. She was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2023, and even after competing in the games and winning medals thrice, there was speculation about her status, with rumours such as that it could be her last competition and that she would retire.
In 2023, Lee announced she would be retiring from college gymnastics due to a “non-gymnastics health-related issue involving my kidneys.” She had been attending Auburn University.
A year later, she announced that her incurable kidney disease was in remission and that she had been able to nearly return to her full training regimen.
The gymnast revealed to Glamour in 2024 that she had a relapse ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic trials; fortunately, she was able to get an infusion and still complete everything to be able to compete for Team USA.
Lee is not only focused on her “comeback” leading up to the 2028 Olympics, but she is also set to participate in a documentary about her journey. The documentary will be produced by Fantastic Studios.
“This is more than a documentary; it’s an invitation to come along for the journey. I know there’s more in me, and this is my chance to challenge myself, test my limits, and see what I’m truly capable of.
“This isn’t about proving anyone wrong. It’s about showing up for myself and discovering what’s possible. Through the setbacks and the victories, I’m giving myself one more chance to find out what happens when I keep going.”
The announcement regarding Lee’s commitment to the 2028 Olympics ended with a quote from her. It read, “This is more than a comeback; stay tuned.”
