Suni Lee never thought she’d come back here.
The star American gymnast returned to the Olympics this summer, becoming a multiple-time medalist again, winning gold in the team all-around and bronze in the individual all-around.
But her achievement came after a major health scare when, at just 21, she suddenly discovered she had kidney disease, which resulted in her unexpectedly gaining 40 pounds.
After winning her fourth and fifth medals overall, Li commemorated the glorious moment on Instagram on Friday.
2024 Paris Olympics
“They told me I’d never do gymnastics again, but I won my fifth Olympic medal!!” she wrote in the caption of the emotional post..
“This medal means more than gymnastics,” Lee added. “Words can’t even express how much my health has taken from me and how much strength it has taught me, so just being here is an even greater accomplishment than anything. I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent the U.S. in my second Olympic Games. Thank you for all the support.”
Lee He said in a cover story for Self magazine. Last October, she said she suddenly woke up with a swollen ankle, something she blamed on intense training in early 2023.
“The swelling just got worse and worse…I think I gained about 40 pounds,” she said. “The swelling immediately affected my training. The bar was falling off. I couldn’t grip. My fingers were really swollen.”
Further testing was required, but the kidney problems worsened, leading to Lee’s retirement from collegiate competition, as she was a top gymnast at Auburn University and had won an NCAA title on the balance beam in 2022.
But now she is back competing in international competitions and doing well.
She will compete in the uneven bars and balance beam finals on Saturday and Sunday, with a chance to win another Olympic medal.
