Sunisa Lee has opened up about the brutal reality of competing under Olympic pressure. On June 24, she spoke to FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul about her experiences.
What happened at the Tokyo Olympics?
Sunisa Lee arrived at the Tokyo Olympics with a lingering foot and ankle injury. Despite this, she stepped up when Simone Biles withdrew from the team final, scoring 15.400 on uneven bars to help the U.S. win a silver medal.
How did she cope with the pressure?
Lee recalled blacking out a couple of times due to stress and not remembering what happened. She now advises young athletes to breathe, do their exercises, and trust in their confidence.
What's next for Sunisa Lee?
Lee's LA 2028 Olympic plans are uncertain. She has kept things open, saying she wants to see where she's at and how her body feels. After the Paris Olympics, she has taken on new roles in fashion and media.
Sunisa Lee visited Minnesota for the Special Olympics USA Games on June 23. She met gymnasts, watched events, and supported athletes. The visit connected with her own experiences, including her diagnosis with two rare kidney diseases in 2023.
Lee had to step away from gymnastics due to her health struggles. However, she regained strength and worked her way back into competition, eventually qualifying for the Paris Olympics. There, she helped Team USA win team gold and earned bronze medals in the individual all-around and uneven bars.
Lee noted the importance of constant health checks and mental health care at the Games. She said it's something she needed when she was competing. As for her gymnastics future, Lee remains uncertain about a potential LA 2028 comeback.
Lee has also had a huge presence in NCAA gymnastics, joining Auburn University from 2021 to 2023. She won an NCAA title with a balance beam in 2022 and an SEC title with uneven bars in 2022, along with several perfect 10.0 scores.
After the Paris Olympics, Lee has entered into life outside the gym. She has collaborated with brands such as Lululemon and American Eagle and featured in the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue at the age of 22. Now 23, Lee is exploring new opportunities while considering her gymnastics future.
On June 24, Lee spoke about pressure and what she tells young athletes who look up to her. She emphasized the importance of trusting in their confidence and doing their exercises. Lee's journey is a testament to her strength and resilience as a gymnast and a person.
Lee's experiences have given her a unique perspective on the support athletes need. She highlighted the importance of health checks and mental health care, saying it's something she needed when she was competing. As Sunisa Lee looks to the future, her fans will be watching to see what's next for this talented gymnast.