The Core Hydration Classic on Saturday was dominated by Simone Biles, who won the all-around and floor exercise competitions punching her ticket to Paris. However, the gymnastics community had their focus on another American gymnast for whom the victory was very personal as she had a tough year battling her kidney issues. Sunisa “Suni” Lee’s incredible return amazed all. The 21-year-old competed in beam receiving the highest score of 14.6.

Since her win at Tokyo 2020, Suni Lee faced several health issues and also was vocal about her lack of motivation to push herself to work every day. Despite the hurdles, Lee won the balancing beam competition, which was a big step forward in her recovery. She competed from the Midwest Gym and placed 29th overall in the all-around rankings. She had concerns about her gymnastics career before this event, which signaled her reappearance.

To celebrate her win with her fans, Suni Lee shared snapshots of her return via an Instagram post, with the caption, “🫶🏻 the best feeling in the world.” Notably, the third slide had her incredible performance video where she is seen flipping on the beam smoothly. She also posted a mirror selfie of herself in the end slide.

Fellow gymnasts Olivia Dunne and Jordan Chiles, and others honored Lee’s efforts in a touching display of solidarity. Their statements emphasized the close-knit community within the gymnastics in addition to Lee’s hard work.

Lee had serious health issues that affected her capacity to practice and compete after being diagnosed with two kidney conditions a year ago. “I could not bend my legs the slightest, I could not squeeze my fingers, and my face was swollen,” she candidly said when describing her suffering. Lee did, however, not only compete but also sparkle at the Core Hydration Classic, especially on the beam. In Lee’s flips, the backing of her peers was vital.

Gymnastics icons backing Suni Lee

Fans and other gymnastics stars celebrated Suni Lee’s comeback. Sophia Groth, from Auburn Tigers women’s gymnastics, commented on Lee’s post writing, “Oh she’s so back.” Olivia Dunne joined and admired Lee stating, “So good”. Additionally, the “Final Five” member Laurie Hernandez,  expressed her backing with a sincere message noting, “So proud of you🅷!” Jordan Chiles, the 2022 World Vault silver medalist, echoed the same emotion commenting, “So proud of you!!!” 

Lee won the bronze medal on uneven bars and the silver medal on the floor at the 2019 World Championship. She also won the 2020 Olympic all-around competition. She competed for the squads that took home gold at the World Championships in 2019 and silver at the Summer Olympics in 2020. Gazing on, Lee set her sights on the U.S. Championships and the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. During a conversation, she stated, “I just really want to be able to do this for myself.”

USA Gymnastics also praised Lee’s outstanding efforts, highlighting her comeback with the comment, “She’s her.” Besides gymnastics icons, other celebs also supported Suni Lee for her display. Toni Breidinger, a Motorsports racing driver mentioned, “So amazing.” Basketball player Jada Williams commented “🐐” a single emoji that says a lot about Lee. Thus, Suni Lee’s dedication to her craft and fortitude in the face of difficulty never cease to motivate her supporters and fellow gymnasts. She can now clearly see her Paris dream coming true.