When Suni Lee's 13.666 score flashed across the screen at Paris' Bercy Arena on Thursday evening, all she could do was smile.
Lee, a former all-around champion who just nabbed gold a few days earlier in the team competition, notched one for herself on Thursday, collecting the bronze after a stunning floor routine that saw her twirl through the air with relative ease.
She wasn't quite able to reach the heights of Simone Biles and Rebeca Andrade during all-around. Still, given all that she has gone through since her starring display at the 2020 Tokyo Games, her result proved one of the more eye-catching in this year's tournament.
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Lee was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2023, spelling an end to what looked to be a trophy-laden season at Auburn and appearing to cast doubt on her Olympic hopes. A little over a year later, she stood on the podium, gleaming with pride as the glinty bronze medallion was wrapped around her neck.
Here's a look back at Lee's health, from a kidney disease diagnosis to an elegant display at the Paris Olympics.
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Suni Lee injury timeline: How gymnastics star went from kidney disease struggles to Olympic bronze medalist
February 2023
Lee's college career came to a sudden close during her sophomore season when Lee revealed that she was dealing with two separate kidney diseases, both of which were wreaking havoc on different parts of her body.
"I could not bend my legs the slightest, I couldn't squeeze my fingers, my face was swollen," Lee said at Team USA's media summit in June. "I looked like a completely different person. It was very, very miserable."
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The pain was constant for the then-20-year-old, who was rendered unable to perform due to her ailment. She was felled with various symptoms, including nausea, swelling, and lightheadedness, all of which left her unable to compete in both practice and official settings. At times, she weighed 40 pounds more than her norm.
“I couldn’t even look at myself in the mirror,” Lee told Sports Illustrated. “I didn’t even recognize myself.”
April 2023
Lee unearthed her diagnosis to the world, laying out her intentions to retire from college gymnastics and move back home. It wasn't an easy adjustment.
“I was just rotting in my bed,” Lee said. “I couldn’t talk to anybody. I didn’t leave the house.”
Lee eventually received clearance to return to the mat, much to the delight of her former college coach Jess Graba.
“She just felt like, Everything else in my world is just completely off the rails right now,” Graba said. “I can’t do anything about it. But here I can. I can go into the gym. I can just be myself. So, she gets to come here and forget everything for three, four hours, and I fully expected it to be that. Even if that’s not what she wants, if that’s what she gets, it’s enough.
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Lee soon embraced the challenge of adapting to her newfound condition. She modified her training schedule, attempting to maximize every bit of physical talent she had in her frame. That meant cutting back on sodium and keeping a watchful eye on how her body was feeling.
Aug. 2023
Lee found a new lease on life after easing her way back into the elite gymnastics scene. In August, she participated in the U.S. Championships. She earned a bronze medal for her efforts on beam.
Lee's impressive display drew additional interest from the World Team Federation, which was seeking to round out its roster for a tournament at the end of the season. Lee declined, opting to rest for the remainder of the year.
Jan. 2024
Lee's hopes to make one last Olympics received a huge boost after she received a call from her doctors. She's been coy about the subject of that phone call. However, it left a serious mark, according to Graba.
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“That’s when she started saying, ‘I think they’re getting a handle on it,’ ” Graba said. “ ‘I’m feeling a lot better. The doctor just called me yesterday and told me that they think they can knock down some of the medications. So, I’m feeling like maybe I want to try.’”
May 2024
After an uneven showing at February's Winter Cup, Lee springboarded herself back into the national consciousness with a 14.6-showing to vanquish Biles and her foes on beam. Her petition to go to the U.S. Championships was successful, moving her one step closer to another Olympic appearance
June 2024
Lee claimed second place in all-around during the U.S. Championships, thereby ensuring that she would make it to Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Aug. 2024
Lee wins gold in the team competition and bronze in the Olympic all-around, cementing her status as one of the greatest gymnasts in U.S. history.
