"Scared that I wasn't ready"- Suni Lee opens on dealing with the pressure of competing in Paris as the reigning Olympic Champion

Suni Lee spoke about the pressure of competing as a reigning Olympic Champion at the Paris 2024. The American gymnast revealed that she struggled with self-doubt and felt that she wasn't ready to compete at the quadrennial games in Paris.

Suni Lee made her Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020 and won three medals, which included one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal. She made her NCAA debut in 2022 and finished first in the balance beam and second in the all-around at that year's NCAA Championships. She announced that the 2022-23 season would be her last season as an NCAA athlete as she aimed a return to elite gymnastics.

Post the Olympic games in Tokyo, Lee witnessed several changes in her life that included being diagnosed with a rare kidney disease. After undergoing treatment, Lee made a comeback to the mat, aiming for a spot in the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics team.

She spoke about facing self-doubt and handling the pressure of returning to the Olympics as the reigning all-around champion in an interview with People.com.

"I think that I am always really nervous, but I think this time around I was more nervous because it was having to deal with the pressure of being the reigning Olympic champion and then also dealing with the health issues and then just being scared that I wasn't ready,” Lee said.

"I think last Olympics, I felt a lot more ready going into it, whereas this one, I was kind of rushed and not really mentally prepared. But at the end of the day, it all ended up working out, which thank God, because I was so nervous," she added.

Suni Lee on battling health issues before the Olympics

Suni Lee during Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 10 - Source: Getty

Suni Lee spoke about battling health issues before the Olympics. The American gymnast revealed how her coach had made modifications to her routine to her routines while she returned to the gym after receiving treatment.

“My coaches have never had to deal with someone who has had two kidney diseases. And obviously, I’m like, ‘OK, I don’t know any other gymnasts that have two kidney diseases that have had to go through this.’ So it’s all a learning process. And we’re taking it day by day," Lee said.

“Right now (my routines are) still a little modified. I think I’m in a good spot, though. 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,” she added

After overcoming all the hardships, Suni Lee made her appearance at the Paris Olympics and concluded her campaign with three medals which included one gold medal in the team event and two bronze in the all-around and uneven bars competitions.