What Happened to Sunisa Lee?
Sunisa "Suni" Lee is an American artistic gymnast, the 2020 Olympic all-around gold medalist, and a six-time Olympic medalist. After battling an incurable kidney disease and competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics where she earned three more medals, Lee announced her return to training on July 14, 2026, with her sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Quick Answer
Suni Lee, the 2020 Olympic all-around champion, has continued her illustrious gymnastics career despite facing significant health challenges. After being diagnosed with two incurable kidney diseases in March 2023, she made a remarkable comeback to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, securing team gold, all-around bronze, and uneven bars bronze. As of July 14, 2026, Lee has announced her return to gymnastics training, teasing a run for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and stating, "This is more than a comeback. Stay tuned."
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
World Championships Success
Lee won a team gold medal, silver on floor exercise, and bronze on uneven bars at the World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, making her mark on the senior international stage.
Olympic All-Around Gold Medal
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021), Suni Lee won the individual all-around gold medal, becoming the fifth consecutive American woman to claim the title. She also earned a team silver and uneven bars bronze.
Competes on Dancing with the Stars
Following her Olympic triumph, Lee participated in Season 30 of 'Dancing with the Stars', finishing in 5th place with her partner Sasha Farber.
NCAA Debut for Auburn University
Lee made her collegiate debut for the Auburn Tigers gymnastics team, competing on uneven bars and balance beam.
NCAA Balance Beam Champion
In her freshman year at Auburn, Lee won the NCAA championship on balance beam and finished second in the all-around. She also scored multiple perfect 10s.
Diagnosed with Kidney Diseases
Lee announced she was diagnosed with two incurable kidney diseases, which caused significant health issues and impacted her training, forcing her to end her NCAA season early.
Partners with American Kidney Fund
Lee partnered with the American Kidney Fund for their 'Know Your Kidneys' initiative, sharing her experience and raising awareness about kidney disease.
Awarded ESPY for Best Comeback Athlete
Recognized for her inspiring return to elite gymnastics despite her health challenges, Lee received the ESPY Award for Best Comeback Athlete. She was also named Glamour's Woman of the Year.
Paris Olympics Team Gold
Lee helped the U.S. women's gymnastics team win the gold medal in the team final at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Paris Olympics All-Around Bronze
Lee earned a bronze medal in the individual all-around competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, adding to her impressive medal count.
Paris Olympics Uneven Bars Bronze
Lee secured another bronze medal in the uneven bars final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, becoming the first American woman to win two medals in the event.
Break from Competition
Lee did not compete in 2025, taking a break after the Paris Olympics.
Attends Gold Gala
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Sunisa Lee attended the 2026 Gold Gala.
Announces Comeback for LA 2028
Lee posted a video on social media announcing her return to gymnastics training, with the caption "i'm back" and a message teasing a run for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. A documentary about her journey is also in production.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Sunisa "Suni" Lee rose to international prominence as a prodigious artistic gymnast, becoming a household name after her stellar performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021). There, she captured the coveted individual all-around gold medal, a team silver, and an uneven bars bronze, making history as the first Hmong American Olympic gold medalist and the first Asian American woman to win the Olympic all-around title. Following her Olympic success, Lee transitioned to collegiate gymnastics, competing for Auburn University from 2021 to 2023. During her NCAA career, she continued to excel, earning an NCAA championship on balance beam and an all-around silver medal in 2022, along with nine perfect 10s.
A significant turning point in Lee's career came in March 2023 when she was diagnosed with two incurable kidney diseases. This diagnosis led to severe symptoms, including significant water retention, swelling, pain, nausea, and lightheadedness, which forced her to cut short her final NCAA season and put her elite training on hold. Despite these debilitating health issues, Lee demonstrated immense resilience and determination, working closely with her medical team to manage her condition and adapt her training regimen. Her journey back to elite competition was widely documented and celebrated, earning her the 2024 ESPY Award for Best Comeback Athlete and being named Glamour's 2024 Woman of the Year.
Lee successfully made a remarkable comeback to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. In Paris, she once again proved her mettle, contributing to the U.S. women's gymnastics team's gold medal victory and securing individual bronze medals in both the all-around and uneven bars. Her performance in Paris was particularly poignant, given her health struggles, and she became the first American woman to win two medals in the uneven bars event.
After the 2024 Paris Games, Lee took a break from competitive gymnastics. However, on July 14, 2026, she officially announced her return to training with a video posted on social media, signaling her intention to pursue a spot on the U.S. team for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. She is currently training at her childhood gym, Midwest Gymnastics, under her longtime coaches Jess Graba and Ali Lim. Alongside her training, a documentary about her journey is also in production. Her kidney condition is reportedly in remission, allowing her to focus on her comeback for the LA Games.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Sunisa Lee made different choices?