When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, and that’s exactly what Suni Lee has done. Her journey is known to all gymnastics fans. It’s been a wild ride, filled with incredible highs and extremely tough lows. After winning the all-around gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, she went through a rough patch with post-Olympic depression and the pressures of college. On top of that, she was hit with the news of two incurable kidney diseases that forced her to step back from training. But through all those challenges, her Olympic teammates Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles, and Jade Carey were right there with her, supporting her and helping her find joy again.
Suni Lee recently opened up in an exclusive interview with Caroline Fenton, which Yahoo Sports released on October 17. The interview, titled “Suni Lee on Olympic Return, Supporting Jordan Chiles, & Meeting Beyoncé!” was all about her friendships in gymnastics. When the host asked about her relationships with teammates like Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles, Suni talked about how important it is to lift each other up, especially during tough times.
Suni Lee shared, “We have the most fun relationship, especially when it comes to the gym. I mean, outside of it, we are like really, really close, and it’s just so easy to talk to them. It’s so nice to have them as well because we’re all going through the same thing; we all feel the same, especially when it comes to competing. Like, we have so much to relate to, so having them—they’re kind of like my mentors, my guides because they have a lot more experience than me. So having them was really nice, and I wouldn’t be able to do it without them.”
Winning the gold medal in the competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was a mix of achieving a lifelong dream and facing unexpected challenges for Suni Lee. In 2021, a young 18-year-old athlete thrust into the limelight along with renowned Olympic champions such as Nadia Comaneci and Simone Biles. Lee opened up about her battle with imposter syndrome while navigating through difficulties before making it to the Paris Olympics despite grappling with a kidney-related ailment that had jeopardized her comeback previously.
Teammates Biles and Jordan Chiles recognized her self-doubt and encouraged her to embrace her greatness during a heart-to-heart conversation before the women’s team final. “They were just like, ‘You need to walk out like the reigning Olympic champion,” she recalled. After Suni Lee’s heartbreaking fall during the balance beam final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, her teammate Simone Biles was one of the first to rush to her side, offering comfort and encouragement. Following a tough landing off the beam during the final aerial series, Suni hugged her coach, Jess Graba, before finding Biles, who greeted her with a warm smile and a supportive hug. But the best moment was in early June.
After Suni Lees’s first vault at the Xfinity, U.S. gymnastics championships didn’t go as planned with one and a half twists of two and a shaky landing due to being far back on the board; she had a heart-to-heart chat with Simone Biles that turned things around for her confidence wise when they crossed paths in a tunnel swiftly after that moment. Lee expressed gratitude for Biles, saying, “She knew that I needed help in the moment.”
Biles encouraged her to “breathe, do what you normally do, and remember you can do hard things.” With Biles by her side, Suni hit her routine on the uneven bars, tying for the highest score of the night. “I don’t think I could have done it without her,” Lee said, ultimately finishing fourth in the all-around—her first time competing in all four events since being diagnosed with two kidney diseases in early 2023. But it wasn’t just them helping her; Suni Lee always stood by her teammates when they needed her the most.
When the chips were down, Jordan Chiles leaned on Suni Lee and Simone Biles for support
Jordan Chiles faced a tough blow when her bronze medal in the women’s artistic floor exercise at the Paris Olympics was stripped after the Romanian gymnastics team challenged her final score. This decision came after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in favor of Romanian gymnast Ana Maria Barbosu, who claimed that an inquiry filed by the U.S. team regarding Chiles’s score was submitted four seconds late, violating the one-minute deadline set by the International Gymnastics Federation. As a result, Chiles’s score was reduced, leading to Barbosu being awarded the bronze medal.
Following the news, Chiles announced that she would be stepping away from social media for her mental health, stating, “I am taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health. Thank you.” But her teammates stood by her side at that time.
Suni Lee has been a strong supporter for Chiles during this difficult time. She acknowledged how challenging the situation is for her teammate, saying, “It’s very hard, especially being an athlete. You work your whole life for that, and it’s just crazy how it can be taken away from you.” Lee made it a point to reach out regularly to check on Chiles, emphasizing her willingness to be there without overwhelming her.
Even Simone Biles also stepped in to offer encouragement, reminding Chiles, “You have to feel all these feels. Don’t let these emotions stop you. This will be the healthiest way to get all of this out.” Biles maintained their connection through video calls and messages. This support highlights the strong bonds among these athletes, showing that they stand by each other in tough times.
