Suni Lee’s Kidney Disease: Inside Olympic Gymnast’s Battle With the ‘Incurable’ Condition

Despite being diagnosed pinch 2 forms of incurable kidney illness successful 2023, Sunisa “Suni” Lee is backmost representing nan United States successful gymnastics astatine nan 2024 Olympics. Everything we cognize astir nan master athlete’s wellness issues.

What Is Suni Lee’s Kidney Disease?

Suni has not specified nan nonstop type of kidney illness she has because “details of nan information fluctuate,” according to Sports Illustrated. However, nan outlet confirmed that doctors person diagnosed her pinch 2 different forms of incurable kidney disease.

Suni told SELF mag that her information is “rare” and that her aesculapian squad predicts that it could alteration arsenic they get a amended grasp connected what’s happening wrong her body.

What Happened to Suni Lee?

The Dancing With nan Stars alum received her test aft waking up to find that astir her full assemblage was swollen successful February 2023.

“I conscionable kept getting much swollen … and I deliberation I gained, like, 40 pounds,” she told SELF. “I kept peeling disconnected nan bar. I couldn’t clasp on. My fingers were truthful swollen.”

At first, Suni’s aesculapian squad thought she was experiencing an allergic reaction, but nan swelling didn’t subside and she besides began experiencing basking flashes, acold spells, headaches, and cramping. “I was conscionable rotting successful my bed. I couldn’t talk to anybody. I didn’t time off nan house,” she recalled successful a June 2023 question and reply pinch Sports Illustrated.

It wasn’t until Team USA Gymnastics expert Marcia Faustin suggested a urine trial that nan first reddish emblem for kidney illness was raised: Suni admitted that she’d been having problem urinating for 2 weeks. More tests followed, arsenic good arsenic a gathering pinch a master who recommended a biopsy of Suni’s kidney tissue. She is now connected regular medicine to thief negociate her symptoms.

Why Did Suni Lee Leave College Gymnastics?

Amid each of this, Suni was a member of nan gymnastics team astatine Auburn University. However, she decided to time off nan programme successful April 2023 arsenic she dealt pinch her wellness issues. She was a sophomore astatine nan time.

“I person been dealing pinch a non-gymnastics health-related rumor involving my kidneys,” she explained. “For my safety, nan aesculapian squad did not clear maine to train and compete complete nan past fewer weeks. I americium blessed and thankful to beryllium moving pinch nan champion specialized aesculapian squad to dainty and negociate my diagnosis. My attraction astatine this clip is my wellness and recovery.”

Suni Lee’s Return to Gymnastics

Despite nan setback, Suni still had her oculus connected nan 2024 Olympics. She returned to competing successful August 2023.

“This comeback was truthful overmuch much than my return to elite gymnastics,” she shared afterward. “It was maine proving to myself that I tin flooded difficult things, and to hopefully animate others to ne'er fto life’s setbacks extremity you from going aft your dreams.”

By January 2024, her doctors confirmed that she would beryllium capable to train for nan Olympics.

How Is Suni Lee’s Health Today?

Suni is now successful remission. “Healthwise, I’m doing really bully correct now,” she said successful April 2024. “We cognize what to do and nan correct medicine to take.” She besides added, “I’m getting a batch stronger. I’ve been capable to train a batch more, and I americium conscionable truthful happy, because I really didn’t deliberation I would beryllium here. To beryllium present is rather incredible.”

She besides told Elle successful July 2024, “My intelligence wellness is nan number 1 priority. I’m conscionable reasoning of it arsenic … it’s for me. I’m competing for myself. I’m proving it to myself.”

Just days earlier she near for nan Paris Olympics, Suni revealed to Today, “There were truthful galore times erstwhile I thought astir quitting and conscionable giving up because I was truthful sick. But erstwhile I had those group astir maine who lifted maine up and supported maine and conscionable made judge that I was good, I knew that this is thing I wanted.”