Six-time Olympic medalist Suni Lee officially launched her bid for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on Tuesday, announcing on social media that she has returned to elite gymnastics training. The 23-year-old took a brief competitive hiatus following her decorated performance at the 2024 Paris Games, but her decision to resume training positions her for a potential third consecutive Olympic appearance on home soil.
In a video posted to her Instagram account, Lee expressed confidence as she stepped back into the gym. “I know what I’m capable of,” Lee said in her announcement video. “I am willing to do whatever it takes to get there.” The St. Paul, Minnesota native capped off the teaser by describing her renewed Olympic pursuits as “more than a comeback.”
Lee is the third member of the gold-medal-winning 2024 U.S. women’s gymnastics team to declare a return to the sport ahead of the Los Angeles Games, joining teammates Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera in active training. While other notable Olympians like Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles have not formally committed to the next Olympic cycle, Lee’s early entry solidifies a powerful anchor for Team USA’s upcoming roster.
The comeback trail is familiar territory for Lee, whose career was nearly derailed in 2023 by a diagnosis of two rare, chronic kidney diseases. The health crisis forced her to cut her collegiate career at Auburn University short and severely restricted her training. Against steep odds, she managed her condition to make the 2024 Olympic squad, ultimately walking away from Paris with a team gold alongside individual bronzes in the all-around and uneven bars. Her all-around bronze marked the first time a reigning women’s Olympic champion returned to the podium in the subsequent Games since Romanian legend Nadia Comaneci.
The 2028 Summer Games are scheduled to open in Los Angeles on July 14, 2028.
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