American gymnast diagnosed with kidney disease in 2023

Suni Lee entered the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a debutant, leaving the Games as a gold medalist in the biggest event of her sport, the women’s all-around.

It was a moment that launched Lee, who has been competing professionally since she was 13, onto the international stage and cemented her status as one of the United States’ biggest rising stars at the Olympic level for future Olympic Games.

But there may have been some thoughts and doubts about whether Lee would make the U.S. women’s gymnastics team for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris when she announced in April 2023 that she had been diagnosed with two forms of kidney disease.

Despite this, the former Auburn Tigers gymnast recovered from her illness in time to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where she hopes to help the United States win its third team gold medal in the last four Olympics.

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“It’s just been an incredibly tough journey,” Lee told TODAY’s Hoda Kotb after qualifying for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. “There were so many times where I thought about quitting and just giving up because I was so sick and it was just so hard to stay motivated, to see everyone else get better, and I was just like, ‘I can’t even go back to the gym,’ and I was constantly doubting myself.

“But once I had those people around me lifting me up, supporting me and making sure I was okay, I knew this was what I wanted to do.”

Here’s what you need to know about Lee’s medical history ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics:

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Diagnosis of kidney disease in Suni Lee

As noted by Sports Illustrated, Lee began experiencing some swelling in her ankles in February 2023. The swelling spread throughout her body and led to some weight gain, as Lee was “at times about 40 pounds heavier than normal.”

“I couldn’t fit into my clothes anymore,” Lee told USA TODAY in November 2023. “My eyes were swollen shut. It was just so scary.”

She added: “At first it was like I woke up swollen. My fingers were so swollen they wouldn’t fit in my hands and I couldn’t hold the bar.”

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Originally thought to be an allergic reaction, it was later determined that Lee had not one, but two rare forms of kidney disease. Lee declined to provide Sports Illustrated with the exact kidney diseases.

Lee’s diagnosis forced her to end her collegiate career at Auburn early after just a year and a half. During her time at Auburn, Lee was named the 2022 SEC Freshman of the Year, in addition to earning 10 All-America honors and an individual national championship title on the balance beam in 2022.

“I have been dealing with a non-gymnastics health issue related to my kidneys. For my safety, my medical team has not allowed me to train or compete for the past few weeks,” Lee wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in April 2023. “I am blessed and grateful to be working with the best specialized medical team to treat and manage my diagnosis. My focus at this time is on my health and recovery.

“I will not stop pursuing my dream of going to Paris in 2024. This experience has actually sharpened my vision for the future.”

Is Suni Lee in remission?

Yes. During the Team USA Media Summit in New York City in mid-April, Lee said she is in remission after the treatment she has undergone over the past year. Lee was away from competition for about a full calendar year, returning to competition in June at the U.S. Championships.

“Right now (my routines are) still a little bit adjusted,” Lee said. “I think I’m at a good point. I don’t want to peak too early. So it feels normal. I feel like I’m going at a good pace. I’m getting all my routines back and working on consistency.”

REQUIRED READING: Meet the U.S. Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Team, headlined by Simone Biles, Suni Lee

What is kidney disease?

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, kidney disease, or kidney failure, occurs when the kidneys are damaged and can no longer filter the blood properly.

According to the American Kidney Fund, these are some symptoms that may indicate possible kidney disease and kidney failure: