Suni Lee says Auburn team felt like 'having 18 sisters,' days after claiming she wasn't treated well

Suni Lee has called her gymnastics teammates at Auburn University her ‘sisters,’ claiming they helped her during their time together. Lee joined Auburn after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but called off her collegiate career in 2023 following a severe kidney ailment.

Lee rose to fame in Tokyo by winning the gold medal in the all-around competition. She was extremely popular when she joined Auburn, with students following her and taking videos, an experience Lee described as "intimidating."

Last month, the 21-year-old had claimed that she wasn't treated well at the campus, adding that she didn't have many friends at Auburn and if there were any, they were from other sports.

“A lot of the girls weren’t the nicest to me,” she said. “I just really felt like an outcast, almost. They didn’t treat me that well. I just knew that I couldn’t trust them," she told Sports Illustrated.

However, Suni Lee has now made a contrasting claim. In an interview with Elle, the Olympic champion spoke about her short collegiate career, saying the Auburn team felt "like having 18 sisters."

“College is really fun. It's really about the team aspect. It's like having 18 sisters,” Lee expressed.

Lee left Auburn and collegiate career after being diagnosed with a kidney ailment. However, she has recovered now. When asked whether she would return to the University after the Paris Olympics 2024, the 21-year-old said she wasn't sure.

"I don’t know how much gymnastics I’ll be doing during that time, but maybe L.A. in 2028. We’ll see,” she said in the Elle interview.

Suni Lee says she is getting back to her normal self

2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Suni Lee places 2nd at Olympic Trials (Photo-Getty)

Suni Lee was unsure at the start of the year whether she would be ready to compete at the Paris Olympics. However, here she is, ready to defend her all-around Olympic crown in Paris after finishing second at the U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials.

"I feel like I’m getting back to regular Suni. And my confidence is back to normal. I’m competing for myself. I’m proving it to myself," she said during the Elle interview.

With confidence in her armor, Lee is a top contender for all-around medals, as well as medals on vault and balance beam at the Paris Olympics.