Suni Lee’s 2025 Status: Olympic Champion Forgoes World Championships Amid Ongoing Kidney Condition Battle
The world of elite gymnastics often moves at a breakneck pace, driven by the quadrennial cycle of the Olympic Games and the annual spectacle of World Championships. Yet, as the 2025 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships commenced, a noticeable and significant absence hung over the competition floor: that of the reigning Olympic All-Around Champion, Suni Lee.
While the commencement of the Worlds brought exciting news—including the announcement of new elements named after young, rising stars—it simultaneously served as a poignant reminder of Lee’s sustained battle for health and her continued hiatus from the most demanding international circuits. This absence, following her decision to also skip the 2025 U.S. Classic, has crystallized the reality of her competitive status: Suni Lee is prioritizing her long-term health as she navigates a complex medical journey, making any talk of a full-scale comeback to the elite stage a measured, cautious process.
The Lingering Question: Suni Lee’s Status in 2025
The most timely competitive update regarding Lee points to a non-participation in the crucial 2025 season. Her decision to step back from the World Championships selection process and the U.S. Classic is directly tied to the two rare kidney-related illnesses she was diagnosed with in 2023. While Lee’s sheer will and determination saw her through a miraculous run to the Paris 2024 Olympics, the high-intensity schedule of back-to-back elite competition, especially in the year following the Games, proved to be too great a risk for her long-term health and management of the condition.
For a gymnast whose career is defined by boundary-breaking achievements—from winning the all-around gold at Tokyo 2020 to becoming the first Hmong-American Olympian to secure gold—her health struggle has introduced an unprecedented level of uncertainty. The ‘unfortunate update’ buzz surrounding the FIG’s autumn meeting, though mostly related to new skill announcements, highlighted the general consensus that the sport’s biggest star would not be gracing the world stage this year, leaving a definitive void.
The Heroic Comeback That Defined Paris 2024
To understand the gravity of her 2025 hiatus, one must first look back at the heroic, against-all-odds performance Lee delivered at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Just a year and a half prior, the prospect of competing seemed impossible. Lee’s body was so swollen that she couldn’t get out of bed, bend her legs, or even put on her grips, leading to a premature end to her collegiate career at Auburn University. Her doctors were uncertain if she would ever be able to return to gymnastics.
Against this terrifying backdrop, Lee mounted a comeback for the ages. She returned to the elite circuit, managing her routines carefully. Her efforts culminated in a stunning performance in Paris, contributing significantly to Team USA’s gold medal victory in the women’s team final. Moreover, she secured two individual bronze medals: one in the all-around final (behind teammate Simone Biles) and another in the uneven bars final.
Her bronze in the uneven bars was particularly meaningful, as it made her the first American woman to win two medals in the event at consecutive Olympics. Lee’s total haul of three medals in Paris brought her career Olympic medal count to six, tying her with Aly Raisman for the third-most by an American gymnast. Her post-competition reflection captured the essence of her journey: “I gave it my all, and that’s all that matters,” she said, acknowledging the sheer miracle of making it to the Olympics at all. She added that she had to overcome “so much,” including fighting “demons” and having her coach, Jess Graba, question whether she should even continue in the sport.
The Road to Recovery and the Long View
Lee’s competitive strategy is now focused on long-term health management, not short-term competitive glory. While the allure of the World Championships is undeniable, her medical team and coaches are meticulously managing her regimen to prevent the flare-ups that plagued her leading up to the 2024 Games.
The two kidney conditions Lee is dealing with are chronic, requiring continuous monitoring and medication. This makes the grueling, repetitive training necessary for elite all-around competition a severe risk. Therefore, her absence from 2025 major events is not a sign of retirement, but a strategic pause. The ultimate goal, undoubtedly, is the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Looking Ahead to LA 2028
The 2028 Games, hosted on American soil, present a powerful incentive for Lee. The precedent set by Simone Biles—who returned to the sport after a significant break and a mental health crisis to become a multiple medalist again at Paris 2024—shows that age and time away are not insurmountable obstacles.
For Lee, a return in 2028 would be the capstone on an already historic career. Her path might mirror that of a specialist, focusing only on one or two events, particularly the uneven bars and balance beam, where her technical prowess shines and the physical impact is less severe than the all-around.
Her current focus remains on maintaining her fitness, managing her medical protocols, and making strategic public appearances to keep her name, image, and likeness (NIL) relevant. While the daily updates are quiet, the underlying narrative is a marathon, not a sprint. The next major competitive benchmark for Lee will likely be the 2026 domestic season, and every day of good health is a victory on her road to the eventual goal of competing in Los Angeles.
In the absence of new competitive triumphs in 2025, Suni Lee’s story continues to be one of profound resilience. Her current status is a powerful statement that even for an Olympic champion, health must always take precedence over hardware. The gymnastics world waits patiently, understanding that a slower, healthier return is the best pathway to seeing her soar on the international stage again.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Why is Suni Lee not competing in the 2025 World Championships?
A: Suni Lee is prioritizing her health and the ongoing management of two rare kidney-related illnesses she was diagnosed with in 2023. The high-volume training required for elite international competition is being strategically avoided to prevent health setbacks and ensure her long-term well-being.
Q: What medals did Suni Lee win at the Paris 2024 Olympics?
A: Suni Lee won three Olympic medals at the Paris 2024 Games: a gold medal in the women’s team final, a bronze medal in the individual all-around final, and a bronze medal in the uneven bars final.
Q: What is Suni Lee’s kidney condition?
A: Suni Lee has been diagnosed with two rare kidney-related illnesses. The condition caused severe swelling throughout her body, making it difficult to train and ultimately led her to end her collegiate gymnastics career early.
Q: Is Suni Lee retired from gymnastics?
A: No. Suni Lee is currently on an indefinite hiatus from major elite competitions to focus on her health. She has not announced her retirement and is widely expected to be aiming for a spot on the Team USA roster for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Q: Has Suni Lee ever had a gymnastics skill named after her?
A: Suni Lee has a skill named after her in the NCAA Code of Points—the ‘Lee’ on the uneven bars, which is a Nabieva with a half turn. The recent FIG updates regarding new elements in October 2025 did not include a skill named after her.
Q: What is the next major competition for Suni Lee?
A: There is no confirmed date for her next major elite competition. Her path is focused on a measured comeback, likely targeting the domestic elite season in 2026 as a stepping stone toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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