Sunisa Lee by Lucy Woldt

Introduction

lucywoldt — 2025-03-03 19:24:23 UTC

She never thought that she would get back to what she loved most. It happened so fast that she couldn't process it. Suni Lee is a current Olympic gymnast who has overcome many challenges including being diagnosed with two incurable kidney diseases. She participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics. Through all the challenges, she worked hard, persevered, and became well known to the world. Suni Lee had an average childhood as well as an amazing gymnastics career despite a major health issue which forced her to persevere to get back to what she loves.

Childhood

lucywoldt — 2025-03-03 19:29:59 UTC

The beginning of her gymnastics journey dates all the way back to her childhood. Her passion for gymnastics started when her father built her a balance beam to help maintain her balance. At the young age of six, Suni Lee started training for gymnastics. Soon, she was seven and triumphed in an all around competition. She was an astonishing athlete with immense talent. Finally, at eleven years old, she qualified for an elite program which would allow her to represent America in an international program. Suni Lee was born and still lives in St Paul, Minnesota (Olympics). Despite a rewarding childhood, Suni would soon face some difficult challenges.

Health

lucywoldt — 2025-03-03 19:40:07 UTC

One major challenge she faced was being diagnosed with two incurable kidney diseases. She had no indication that it was coming. One morning in 2023 she woke up with very swollen ankles. The swelling soon spread to the entire body; therefore, her training became harder and harder. As a result, she thought that she gained forty pounds from the swelling and most doctors thought that it was an allergic reaction. Some reactions to the disease included nausea, lightheadedness, and she couldn’t even squeeze her fingers. Though the disease caused a large amount of physical pain, it took a big mental toll on Suni’s life (Blanton). Although she faced all of these challenges, she pushed through it and competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Olympics

lucywoldt — 2025-03-03 20:21:36 UTC

Suni Lee was an outstanding gymnast who competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics. Suni Lee is 21 with a height of 5 feet (Team USA). She will soon graduate from Auburn University. In Tokyo her team had a total of six teammates including Jade Carey, Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Mykayla Skinner, and Grace McCallum. Suni and her team got a silver medal all-around (Olympics). Due to Suni’s specialty in uneven bars, (Team USA) she was awarded a bronze medal. In the 2024 Paris Olympics Suni’s teammates included some of the same people. Their names were Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles, and Hezly Rivera. Suni got a bronze medal in uneven bars and her team got a gold all-around (Olympics). The total number of Olympic medals that she has is six (Team USA). It is clear that Suni Lee has had a lasting impact on American contestants.

Conclusion

lucywoldt — 2025-03-03 20:22:41 UTC

Suni Lee has impeccable talent in gymnastics. Starting at a young age, she focused on gymnastics and it soon became her top priority to become a professional even if she had to face obstacles. She was dedicated from the beginning to find her passion. This meant hours and hours in the gym perfecting every skill. Even when her goal of becoming a pro was going to be hard because of her health, she found a way to persevere, get back to gymnastics, and compete in the Olympics. As a result of her determination and dedication, many young girls look up to Suni Lee as a role model. Many American gymnasts have left a legacy on the beloved sport and Suni Lee is at the top of the list.