"It felt like nobody was listening" - Suni Lee opens up about her decision to join the American Kidney Fund and advocate for kidney disease awareness

The six-time Olympic medalist Suni Lee has become an advocate for kidney health, raising awareness about related diseases. In an interview this week, the gymnast opened up about her kidney disease diagnosis experience and involvement with the American Kidney Fund.

When the Asian American gymnast was first diagnosed with two kidney diseases in early 2023, she wasn't completely aware of the condition and was hesitant to share her story. Swelling in her face, ankles, hands, and legs forced Lee to retire early from college gymnastics to address her health issues and caused her mental distress as well.

In July 2024, the 21-year-old decided to partner with the American Kidney Fund's initiative, Know Your Kidneys, to raise awareness. Speaking out about her diagnosis in an interview with 9news on November 5, the gymnast urged others to take control of their health and said:

"It was so important for me to get involved with the American Kidney Fund just because of the impact that they’ve made on the kidney community. And also just wanting to bring more awareness to kidney diseases because I know when I first got diagnosed, I didn't know much about it and also was just so scared to tell my story," she said.

Lee added:

"Being able to tell my story how I want to and also getting to hear others and learn more about it has been super important for me because like Lavarne said, I really had to advocate for myself. And I think the most important takeaway that I want anybody to kind of hear from this is just to advocate for yourself, because I had to do that. It was very very frustrating when it felt like nobody was listening, but just keep doing it."

---

Suni Lee revealed her response to being told that the kidney disease could end her gymnastics career

Suni Lee after winning bronze in Artistic Gymnastics at Paris Olympics 2024 Source: Getty

Suni Lee was told that her gymnastics career might come to an end after a kidney disease diagnosis. But the 21-year-old defied the odds and went on to book her berth for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Speaking to Komo News on November 2, the two-time gold medalist revealed what she told her doctor after she was told her kidney disease could bring an end to her gymnastics career.

"It's been difficult, being told that I was never going to do gymnastics again was heartbreaking, but I literally told my doctor 'Just watch this and I am going to prove you wrong' and I did exactly that," Lee said (at 3:44).

Suni Lee made her comeback at the 2024 Winter Cup in February, with just six weeks of full-time training. The Olympic gold medalist struggled at the competition, falling twice on uneven bars and slipping on balance beam. After finishing 26th on bars and 13th on balance beam, Lee couldn't make it to Baku World Cup 2024.

However, in the American Classic 2024, Lee clinched the balance beam title, reigniting her hopes for the Summer Olympics.

Lee went to Paris and concluded her successful Summer campaign with one gold and two bronze medals, becoming the first American woman to win two medals in uneven bars.