Suni Lee announces return to gymnastics two years before LA28 begins

By admin — In News — July 14, 2026

   ​Suni Lee isn’t done with gymnastics, after all.The Tokyo Olympics all-around champion announced a return Tuesday. She has not competed since the Paris Games two years ago, where she won three medals, including a bronze in the all-around. Lee’s six medals from the Tokyo and Paris Olympics tie her with Aly Raisman for third-most by a U.S. women’s gymnast.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLee’s announcement July 14 comes two years to the day of the opening ceremony for the Los Angeles Olympics.”I know what I’m capable of and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get there. Back in the gym,” Lee said in a video released by USA Gymnastics.The video didn’t offer any more details on Lee’s comeback, including why she’s decided to return, when she’ll compete again or whether she’ll do the all-around again or specialize in an event or two.Lee is the third member of the Paris Olympic team to return to elite gymnastics. Jade Carey is competing at the U.S. Classic this weekend while Hezly Rivera, the youngest member of the team, won the all-around title at the national championships last year.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLee’s announcement comes as something of a surprise, given the physical challenges she faced to get to Paris.She was diagnosed with two kidney ailments in the spring of 2023 that caused her to retain fluids. Training was a crapshoot as doctors tried to first figure out what was wrong with her and then find a treatment that would work. By December of 2024, just getting out of bed was an achievement.But Lee persevered. Doctors eventually found the right combination of medications for her, and she made her second Olympic team. In Paris, in addition to her all-around bronze, Lee helped the U.S. women to a gold in the team competition and won a second bronze on uneven bars.”I’m really proud of myself. This time around, it’s just been so much more amazing,” Lee said after the uneven bars final in Paris. “I know I keep saying amazing and it’s probably really annoying, but that’s really all the words that I have because it’s just amazing.”This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Suni Lee announces return to gymnastics two years before LA28 begins  

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