Is Suni Lee Sick? Who Is Suni Lee? What Kidney Disease Does Suni Lee Have in Real Life?
by
Updated Jul 29, 2024
Is Suni Lee Sick?
Suni Lee, the Olympic gymnast, faced a serious health challenge when she was diagnosed with two rare forms of kidney disease in April 2023. The illness caused severe swelling and weight gain, which disrupted her training and led her to leave college gymnastics early.
After a year of treatment, Lee is now in remission and has made a strong return to competition. She qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics and is working hard to prepare for the Games. While she experienced significant health issues, her current condition is stable, and she’s focused on achieving her goals in Paris.
Who is Suni Lee?
Sunisa "Suni" Lee is an American artistic gymnast. She won gold in the all-around and bronze on uneven bars at the 2020 Olympics, and silver on floor and bronze on uneven bars at the 2019 World Championships. Lee was part of the gold-winning team at the 2019 Worlds and the silver-winning team at the 2020 Olympics.
She is the first Hmong-American and Asian-American woman to win the Olympic all-around title. With six world championship and Olympic medals, she is among the top ten most-decorated American female gymnasts. In 2021, she earned several major awards and honours.
| Name | Sunisa Lee |
| Born | March 9, 2003 |
| Birthplace | Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA |
| Full Name | Sunisa Phabsomphou |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Hmong-American |
| Occupation | Artistic Gymnast |
| Injuries | Rare kidney disease (2023), ankle injury, Achilles tendon injury (2020) |
| Current Status | Competing in elite gymnastics with plans for the 2024 Olympics |
https://www.instagram.com/p/C9-hkN_uXHN/?hl=en&img_index=1
What Kidney Disease Does Suni Lee Have in Real Life?
Suni Lee has been diagnosed with two rare forms of kidney disease. This condition caused severe swelling, weight gain, and other health issues that disrupted her training and led her to leave college gymnastics early. The exact types of kidney disease were not specified, but they significantly impacted her daily life and athletic performance.
After a year of treatment, Lee is now in remission and has successfully returned to competition. She qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics and is focused on preparing for the Games, having overcome the health challenges she faced.
Suni Lee Age
As of 2024, Suni Lee is 21 years old. She was born on March 9, 2003 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, is of Hmong descent. Her mother, Yeev Thoj, a healthcare worker, immigrated from Laos, and Lee was raised by her mother’s partner, John Lee, whom she considers her father.
Lee's interest in gymnastics started at age six after watching Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson on YouTube. She began competing at age seven, quickly advancing and qualifying for elite gymnastics by age 11. Jess Graba has been her coach since she was around twelve.
Suni Lee Career
Sunisa Lee began her gymnastics career in 2015, competing in the Hopes division and quickly moving up to junior elite. She gained attention with a gold medal at the 2017 Gymnix International and later won multiple medals at the 2018 Pacific Rim Championships. In 2019, she debuted as a senior, winning medals at the World Championships, including a bronze on uneven bars and a silver on floor.
Lee faced injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 but returned strong in 2021, winning the Olympic all-around gold. She then competed in college gymnastics, earning perfect 10s and NCAA titles before returning to elite gymnastics in 2023. She qualified for the 2024 Olympics.
