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Weeks After Debut Setback, Suni Lee Craves a ‘Non-Gymnastics’ Break

Published 03/26/2024, 4:00 PM EDT

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With less than 125 days remaining until the highly anticipated Paris Olympics, the gymnastics world is abuzz with excitement and anticipation. This year, American fans have a multitude of reasons to celebrate as iconic veterans of the sport, including Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles, make their return to the spotlight. Among these revered names stands Suni Lee, making a comeback after a challenging 2023 season marked by a diagnosis of kidney disease.

Suni Lee returned to compete at the 2024 Winter Cup last month, but unfortunately, she didn’t do as well as she hoped as she fell twice on the uneven bars. Weeks after this heartbreaking setback early in her season, Suni Lee now candidly reveals her longing for a respite from the rigors of gymnastics—a yearning for a much-needed ‘non-gymnastics’ break.

Suni Lee craves a vacation

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In an exclusive interview with E! News, Suni Lee opened up about juggling her pursuit of a spot on Team USA for the 2024 Olympics with managing her kidney disease diagnosis. She shared that despite her health condition, she dedicates nearly eight hours each day to training in gymnastics, including additional time for strength and conditioning. Suni Lee also discussed her plans for a break after the Olympics.

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Despite her laser focus on securing a spot on Team USA and her determination to improve her skills, Suni acknowledges the importance of taking time off once the intense competition is over. She shared, “I can’t wait to let my body rest.” And even shared, “This is gonna be like my time to go on a vacation, non-gymnastics related and be gymnastics-free for a little bit. I think it’ll be good for my body and my mental health.” As we reflect on these words, let us see how the 21-year-old is planning her redemption after the Winter Cup setback.

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Her road ahead

At the 2024 Winter Cup, Suni Lee was aiming to showcase her skills and earn a spot at the Baku World Cup, where she could showcase her latest masterpiece, ‘The Lee,’ on an international stage. She has acknowledged the lessons learned from her performance and setback at the Winter Cup and is working diligently to improve. While she expressed frustration over not being able to debut ‘The Lee’ as planned, she has remained optimistic about future opportunities to showcase her groundbreaking move.

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Suni Lee’s plan of action includes “focusing on getting the skills named and just upping my level of difficulty.” With upcoming competitions like the Pacific Rim Championships and many others, Suni has a chance to prove herself and regain her confidence. As she continues her journey, fans wait with anticipation as she paves her path to the Paris Olympics, making America proud again.

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Written by:

Christaline Meyers

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Christaline Meyers is a senior Olympics writer at EssentiallySports who specializes in gymnastics and alpine skiing. Christaline is one of the acclaimed authorities in the coverage of 6x All-Around champion, Simone Biles. She has written extensively, covering every detail of Biles’s life stories as well as providing her perspective on Simone Biles’ Yurchenko Double Pike controversy.
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Edited by:

Sampurna Pal