“I’m really happy that it’s out now and I can just talk about it,” Lee tells PEOPLE
Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Suni Lee revealed her gymnastics comeback was inspired by the feeling that she hadn’t reached her full potential in past Olympic games
- The gymnast kept her return to the sport a secret for two years while managing an incurable kidney disease
- Lee describes her journey as a “redemption tour” after winning gold and two bronze medals in Paris in 2024
Suni Lee is revealing the inspiration behind her incredible gymnastics comeback.
“Honestly, I just felt like I had so much more in the tank,” Lee tells PEOPLE on the red carpet at the 2026 EPSYS in New York City on Wednesday, July 15.
After she helped Team USA win gold in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Lee — who was diagnosed with an incurable kidney disease in 2023 — took a step back from the sport.
Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty
In reference to her diagnosis, Lee tells PEOPLE she feels that she wasn’t able to compete to her full potential during her last Olympics.
“I think this time around I want to give myself that chance,” she says. “I’m really excited to have my crew, and everybody following the journey.”
The remarks come after the 23-year-old Olympic gold medalist announced on Tuesday, July 14, that she’s returning to gymnastics in a video on Instagram captioned, “I’m back 🎬.”
In the video, Lee walked around a gym and declared, “I know what I’m capable of,” as a montage played of clips from her career over the years. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get there,” Lee added.
“This is more than a comeback, stay tuned,” the final screen read.
In regards to the Paris games, Lee described the event as a “redemption tour” when speaking with PEOPLE shortly after snagging another gold medal and two bronze.
“This has been my redemption tour from the last Olympics, and I’ve been trying to give myself grace for not being, I guess fully back to normal Suni,” she said at the time. “But ever since I got sick, I feel like normal Suni is — she’s just a different girl now.”
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As for a comeback? Lee now confirms the rumors that she’s kept it a secret for two years.
“It’s definitely been difficult. I’ve been so excited about it. Obviously I want to get back in the gym and train and just be able to talk about it freely,” she tells PEOPLE at the ESPYS of keeping her comeback under wraps.
She adds, “I’m really happy that it’s out now and I can just talk about it.”
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