Suni Lee was supposed to be on top of the world, but life had other plans. Only a couple of years after capturing Olympic gold in Tokyo, she was struck down by a life-altering diagnosis: a rare kidney disease that left her swollen, fatigued, and forced to leave the sport that she loved. For a while, everything stopped. No gymnastics, no training, just survival. But even in the silence, Suni was quietly fighting, not just for her health, but for herself. She knew her story wasn’t over. And she proved that even after the Paris Olympics!! But now is her journey over? Well, let’s hear it from her.
Fast forward to Paris 2024, she won. Team gold with Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, and Hezly Rivera. Individual bronze. But what now? Well, we have seen after Paris, Suni did something rare for elite athletes: she hit pause again, this time on her terms. She moved to New York City, trading gym chalk and leotards for designer runways and media sets. But is her gymnastics career officially over? That question resurfaced recently when Wong4Worlds shared a behind-the-scenes video on X (formerly Twitter), showing Suni Lee getting her makeup done.
The makeup artist casually asked, “So you said, would you plan to still compete or no?” And Suni’s answer was honest and revealing. “This is like the first time in my life where I’ve ever been able to even experience actual real-life world problems, just because like my whole life has always been gymnastics.” She went on to say she used to train nine hours a day, every day, for 18 years, and her body still feels the effects of it. As she puts it, “And my body right now is still in pain, even though I haven’t done anything since the meet, and it’s just been warm.”
Suni hasn’t shut the door on LA2028 pic.twitter.com/R9GViIzOcE
— wong4worlds (@freshersic) June 19, 2025
Moreover, Suni opened up about how much she’s enjoying life right now, trying new things, having fun, and simply existing outside the rigid world of elite athletics. “Am I willing to give up all of the opportunities again?” she reflected. “Everything’s a sacrifice.” She admitted she’s not sure. While she doesn’t feel the need to prove anything to the world, there’s still a small part of her that feels like she has more left to give, more to prove to herself. That quiet fire, that inner question, still lingers.
So, is Suni Lee done with gymnastics? Not exactly. She might not be gearing up for the next meet right now, but she hasn’t closed the door on LA2028. She’s living in the in-between, honoring what she’s accomplished, healing from what she’s endured, and slowly discovering what comes next. And whatever she chooses, one thing’s clear: she’s doing it on her terms, for the first time in a long time. While she may not be performing at the moment, she’s still making a big impact on every individual. But how?
Suni Lee’s second act is just as powerful as her first
Suni Lee was riding high after her Tokyo 2021 Olympic gold, but by early 2023, everything changed. She was diagnosed with a rare, incurable kidney disease that caused rapid weight gain, swelling, and emotional exhaustion. It forced her to step away from Auburn’s gymnastics program and take a full break from training. But even during this low point, Suni found strength through medication, therapy, and a completely restructured lifestyle. Her condition went into remission, and by January 2024, she was cleared to return to elite competition. Fast forward to Paris 2024, and she stunned the world again, helping Team USA take gold and earning two individual bronzes, including one in the all-around.
That made her the first reigning Olympic all-around champion since 1980 to return and medal again. Gymnastics, she said, had always been her “safe space,” and she did it for little Suni, who refused to quit. After Paris, though, Suni took a different leap, this time into New York City life. She pressed pause on elite gymnastics to explore a whole new world: fashion, modeling, and acting. She’s appeared at NY Fashion Week, the Met Gala after-party, and even landed the cover of Sports Illustrated. She’s also become a courtside staple at Knicks games, drawing attention in the NBA scene.
Beyond the spotlight, Suni Lee embraced a new role as an American Kidney Fund ambassador, using her platform to raise awareness about chronic kidney disease. Her partnerships now include HOKA, SKIMS, Lululemon, and Crocs, and she’s been vocal about topics like eczema and self-care. Whether she’s training for a comeback or not, one thing’s for sure: Suni is living life on her own terms and inspiring millions while doing it.
The post Suni Lee Clears Air Over Gymnastics Future as Simone Biles’ Ex-Teammate Adjusting to New Life appeared first on EssentiallySports.
