Sunisa Lee Wins Three Olympic Medals in Paris

Sunisa Lee won three Olympic medals in Paris, a remarkable achievement considering she was bedridden in December.

What happened?

She struggled with kidney diseases, which caused her weight to fluctuate wildly, and at one point she put on 45 pounds. Her coach, Jess Graba, believed she had innate air awareness, a talent that helped her excel on the uneven bars.

Why it matters for Sunisa Lee

Lee's bronze medal on bars was a surprise, but she was happy with her performance, saying it was fun to fly around on the bars. She stood and cheered for Kaylia Nemour of Algeria, who won the gold medal, showing appreciation for the difficulty of the sport.

What comes next?

Lee can tie Shannon Miller for the second-most Olympic medals by an American gymnast if she finishes in the top three in the balance beam final on Monday. She and her coach improvised a plan to introduce a new skill, but it didn't work out, so they shifted to a safer set that would leave her in a better position to make the team. And now Lee is every bit the equal of who she was in Tokyo, helping power the U.S. to gold in the team event. She has six Olympic medals and counting, with a career that continues to impress. But in December, she couldn't get out of bed, and her future in gymnastics was uncertain. So her performance in Paris is a testament to her hard work and dedication. Lee's ability to perform under pressure is impressive, and she has a greater appreciation for what it takes to make something so demanding look easy. As she moves forward, Lee will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of artistic gymnastics. And with her sights set on the balance beam final, she is ready to take on the next challenge. Her coach, Graba, believes in her, and she believes in herself, which is all that matters.