SUNI LEE
(MIDWEST GYMNASTICS)
Vitals: DOB: March 9, 2003 Hometown: St. Paul, MN
Profession Highlights:
- 2024 Core Hydration Basic: 1st BB
- 2022 NCAA Championships: 1st BX; 2nd AA
- 2020 Olympics: All-Round Champion; 2nd Workforce & third UB
- 2021 U.S. Championships: 2nd AA & BB; 1st UB
- 2019 World Championships: 1st Workforce; third UB; 2nd FX
- 2019 U.S. Championships: 2nd AA & FX; 1st UB
The Storyline:
In spite of everything that 2020 Olympic Champ Suni Lee has endured over the past 12 months, it’s outstanding that she’s even again on the competitors flooring and on a path to problem for a spot on the 2024 Olympic staff. After a kidney sickness reduce her NCAA season quick at Auburn final 12 months, Lee has been on a rollercoaster of a journey. At one level, swelling from her sickness was so dangerous that the uneven bars nice couldn’t even get in her grips to chalk up. She additionally discovered herself battling not solely the bodily illnesses of the sickness, however the psychological anguish that comes together with it that resulted in some
melancholy. Simply to make it again to a aggressive degree is an achievement. However Lee not solely made it again, she realized new abilities alongside the best way, together with a full-twisting Jaeger launch on uneven bars that will likely be named for her if she completes it in a World Cup or the Olympics.
In podium coaching at Winter Cup, Lee was trying assured and sharp as she landed ability after ability and did it together with her typical polish and magnificence. However in competitors, she struggled. Two falls on uneven bars adopted by one other on beam left the Olympic Champ trying briefly dismayed and audiences shocked. We wished everybody may have seen her in podium coaching to know simply how sharp she really appeared and to know that the potential to make this 2024 Olympic staff is totally, certainly, an actual chance.
However the day reminded us that even the best athletes on the earth are, certainly, human. How she responds is the true mark of a champion and Lee is already placing the meet into perspective and transferring ahead.
“It clearly wasn’t what I needed, however in all honesty, I believe that it’s good that it occurred right here somewhat than elsewhere. Like, you possibly can’t get anyplace with out failing,” she stated.
For athletes of all ages and ranges, it was an necessary reminder. All of us have dangerous days, even the defending Olympic Champion. However how we brush ourselves off and decide up the items is how we’ll make our mark—a sentiment echoed by her coach Jess Graba following the meet, who famous that even an Olympic Champion makes errors. It’s what you do with these errors that depend, and Suni took them as gas.
Following the American Basic, the place she competed vault (13.250) and beam (meet excessive 14.300), she headed to Hartford and reminded us all as soon as once more that not solely can she make this staff, she may all however have her place locked with a powerful exhibiting in Fort Value. Competing on vault, beam and flooring, she appeared assured and robust, successful beam and able to look forward to Fort Value on the highway to her second Olympic Video games. She is aware of there’s work to be achieved and is assured that she’s heading in the right direction.
“I believe I’m beginning to construct much more confidence on beam, which is tremendous necessary as a result of that’s at all times going to be one of many occasions that it comes right down to for me,” she stated after Classics. “Ground, [I’m] feeling good about that. Clearly, it’s not the routine that I need to do for the remainder of the season, but it surely’s good to go on the market and compete a full routine as a result of it’s been so lengthy … Clearly, I need to be 100% proper now doing all the things 100%, engaged on my consistency. However like I stated, my coaches have been actually supportive in simply making an attempt to assist me with my psychological and never get too forward of myself.”
