“Lee’s Inspiring Journey to Olympic Bronze: Overcoming Adversity in Paris”
The adventure to Paris become tough for Lee, which made Sunday’s fulfillment even sweeter.Her third appearance in Paris for the uneven bars is an attraction in itself! The 21-year-old gymnast from Team USA clinched a bronze medal in the Olympic uneven bars final on Sunday, August 4, 2024.
She secured third place after Algeria’s Kaïslea Nemour, who scored 15.700 points, and China’s Kiyan Kiu, who scored 15.500 points. Lee earned 14.800 points. This new hardware marks Lee’s 1/3 bronze medal, following her group’s gold within the group final and bronze inside the all-around very last at this Olympic cycle. Previously, she won a bronze in the uneven bars event at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Lee reflected after the women’s all-around final on August 1, stating in a press conference with PEOPLE and other journalists, “I told myself not to put pressure on myself because I didn’t want to think about the previous Olympics or prove anything to anyone.” Paris has been a tough road for Lee, making Sunday’s success even sweeter.
In April 2023, Lee announced she was cutting short her college career in Auburn due to an unspecified kidney illness. By September, the same illness forced her to withdraw from the World Championship team selection camp. She told The New York Times that she finally resumed training in January 2024, when her doctors confirmed her medications were working well.
“There were many moments where I thought I was too sick and would give up, so I quit playing,” she told TODAY”But when I located myself surrounded with the aid of a supportive community that prioritized my nicely-being, I realized that this direction changed into really my calling.”
“Everything she’s endured and continues to endure, it’s just… she’s a warrior,” her coach Jess Graba told journalists, following her silver medal win on August 1 with PEOPLE. “It’s what she wanted, so she went out and got it.”
Graba said standing on the podium with Lee seemed far-fetched just a few months ago. But with hard work and unwavering self-belief, she seized the opportunity.
“He described it as a path fraught with significant challenges,” he reflected.”It’s a balance between keeping her healthy, keeping her mind right, and keeping faith in her and me.”
Lee will now compete in the balance beam final on August 5.
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