Two-time Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee is officially back in the gym. After a year and a half away from competitive gymnastics, the 23-year-old icon announced her return on Instagram this morning with a powerful video montage of her latest training feats.
“I know what I’m capable of,” Lee says in the voiceover. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get there.” The clip ends with the caption: “This is more than a comeback, stay tuned.”
Lee’s last major competition was the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she added three more medals to her collection: bronze in the all-around, bronze on uneven bars, and gold in the team all-around. That brought her career Olympic medal total to six, including her breakout performance in Tokyo in 2021 when she won gold in the all-around, silver in the team event, and bronze on uneven bars.
Between those two Olympic appearances, Lee also dominated at the collegiate level for Auburn University, winning the NCAA balance beam championship and finishing runner-up in the all-around at the 2022 NCAA championships. She scored eight perfect 10s during her college career, showcasing her signature blend of power and grace.
Her journey began on the world stage in 2019, when at just 16 she earned three medals at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships: gold in the team competition, silver on floor exercise, and bronze on uneven bars. Since then, she has been a fixture on podiums worldwide.
But after Paris, Lee stepped away from the sport entirely in 2025, leaving fans wondering if they had seen the last of her. Now, with the 2028 Summer Olympics set for Los Angeles, the pull of competing on home soil appears to be too strong to resist. Lee’s comeback echoes the determination of other athletes who have returned after long breaks, like Naomi Osaka's recent return to tennis after her own hiatus.
Lee’s announcement has already sparked excitement across the gymnastics world. At 23, she is still young by gymnastics standards, and her experience at the highest level gives her a unique advantage. If she can regain her form, she could be a serious contender for the 2028 U.S. Olympic team.
“I’m back,” she wrote simply in her post, but the message is clear: Suni Lee is not done yet. With the Los Angeles Games on the horizon, this comeback could be one for the history books.
