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Suni Lee‘s journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics was more durable than what most athletes have been by. The 21-year-old gymnast appeared on TODAY alongside her teammates — Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera — and opened up in regards to the tough battle she endured after being recognized with two types of kidney illness.
“We didn’t suppose I might be right here,” she admitted, referring to her present standing as a member of the 2024 U.S. Olympic staff. “So, getting by all of these occasions and … every thing that we needed to undergo this week to get to the place we’re proper now, it was simply such a tough, unbelievable journey.”
Suni then defined how she bought by the moments of self-doubt, recalling the “many occasions the place I thought of quitting and simply giving up as a result of I used to be so sick, and it was simply so arduous to remain motivated, watching all people get higher.”
“A 12 months in the past, I didn’t suppose this was potential.”
An emotional Suni Lee displays on her journey to the #ParisOlympics. pic.twitter.com/vkFmnk2omd
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 1, 2024
“And I’m similar to, ‘I can’t even get again into the fitness center’ and always doubting myself,” she added.
Suni gained the ladies’s particular person All-Round competitors on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Shortly thereafter, she enrolled at Auburn College to compete with the college’s gymnastics staff. Nevertheless, by her sophomore 12 months, she left as a consequence of her well being situation. In early 2023, Suni observed that she had swelling round her physique and had gained round 40 kilos. Docs subsequently found that the athlete had an incurable kidney illness. Nevertheless, she was decided to get again on the ground for gymnastics coaching.
In August 2023, Suni shared a constructive replace along with her Instagram followers, noting how “blessed and so so grateful” she was to get again to competing at an elite degree.
“This comeback was a lot greater than my return to elite gymnastics,” she wrote on the time. “It was me proving to myself that I can overcome arduous issues, and to hopefully encourage others to by no means let life’s setbacks cease you from going after your goals.”
Earlier this 12 months, Suni confirmed that she was in remission. She is now on her technique to Paris this summer time to signify Staff USA on the 2024 Olympic Video games.