Sunisa "Suni" Lee, the St. Paul native who grabbed the Olympic all-around crown in Tokyo, is officially back in the gymnastics game. Two years out from the Los Angeles Games, the 23-year-old dropped a social-media video from the gym, telling viewers, "I know what I'm capable of," and promising she is "willing to do whatever it takes to get there."
The announcement landed Tuesday in a short Instagram reel captioned "i'm back," a quick-hit montage of past competitions and fresh training clips. As reported by CBS News, Lee tells viewers, "I'm back in the gym," and repeats, "I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get there."
A Decorated Champion And A New Film
Lee is already firmly in gymnastics legend territory. She is the 2020 Olympic all-around champion and a six-time Olympic medalist who helped Team USA win gold in Paris while also taking bronze in the all-around and uneven bars, according to NBC Sports.
NBC Sports also reports that a documentary chronicling Lee's return is now in production, with additional details laid out in a Fanatics Studios press release.
Where She'll Train
For this next chapter, Lee is heading back to where it all started: Midwest Gymnastics in Little Canada, Minnesota. Coaches Ali Lim and Jess Graba have guided her there since childhood, and the gym's website published a post quoted by NBC in which Graba said, "Ali and I have coached Suni since she was a little girl in this gym, and watching her decide to chase this again is something I'll never take for granted." Midwest Gymnastics has confirmed the club will back her push toward 2028.
What This Means For LA 2028
Lee’s decision immediately shakes up the early conversation around the LA team picture. Teammates Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera have already jumped back into competition, while some of the sport’s biggest names have yet to say whether they are in for 2028. As The Guardian notes, her move adds to renewed questions about Team USA’s depth and who will actually grab the five coveted Olympic roster spots in two years.
Health And The Comeback Arc
After her Tokyo triumph, Lee was diagnosed with a debilitating kidney disease, a turn that at points left both doctors and the gymnast unsure whether a return to elite competition would ever be possible. The diagnosis and the physical and emotional hurdles she fought through to reach Paris were detailed by CBS News, underscoring just how big this latest decision really is.
The reel signs off with the line, "This is more than a comeback. Stay tuned," and for now, Minnesota fans and the wider gymnastics world are doing exactly that. Every turn at Midwest will be under the microscope as one of the sport’s most resilient champions tests whether she can line up another shot at Olympic gold on home soil in LA 2028.
