SUNI LEE
(MIDWEST GYMNASTICS)
Vitals: DOB: March 9, 2003 Hometown: St. Paul, MN
Profession Highlights:
- 2024 U.S. Championships: 2nd BB; 4th AA, UB
- 2024 Core Hydration Basic: 1st BB
- 2022 NCAA Championships: 1st BB; 2nd AA
- 2020 Olympics: All-Round Champion; 2nd Workforce & third UB
- 2021 U.S. Championships: 2nd All-Round & 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 during the last 12 months, it’s exceptional that she’s even again on the competitors flooring and on a path to problem for a spot on the 2024 Olympic workforce. After a kidney sickness minimize her NCAA season brief at Auburn final 12 months, Lee has been on a rollercoaster of a experience. 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 stage is an achievement. However Lee not solely made it again, she discovered new abilities alongside the way in which, together with a full-twisting Jaeger launch on uneven bars that can 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 along with her typical polish and elegance. 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 surprised. We wished everybody might have seen her in podium coaching to know simply how sharp she truly appeared and to know that the potential to make this 2024 Olympic workforce is completely, undoubtedly, an actual risk.
However the day reminded us that even the best athletes on the planet 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 wished, however in all honesty, I feel 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 vital reminder. All of us have dangerous days, even the defending Olympic Champion. However how we brush ourselves off and choose 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 rely, and Suni took them as gasoline.
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 workforce, she might all however have her place locked with a powerful displaying in Fort Price. Competing on vault, beam and flooring, she appeared assured and robust, successful beam and able to stay up for Fort Price on the street to her second Olympic Video games. She is aware of there’s work to be accomplished and is assured that she’s heading in the right direction.
“I feel I’m beginning to construct much more confidence on beam, which is tremendous vital as a result of that’s at all times going to be one of many occasions that it comes all the way 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, however it’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 every thing 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.”
At Championships, Lee made a case for herself particularly on beam, outscoring Simone Biles on Day 2. She introduced again her Yurchenko double full on vault and carried out two strong flooring routines. On bars, she competed a downgraded routine that she was capable of simply hit for scores within the mid 14s. She plans on upgrading her routine for Trials, and if she’s constant along with her harder routine, Lee will show she deserves a ticket to Paris and will put herself in place to contend for a medal on the occasion.
