The 2024 Core Hydration Classic Podium Training was buzzing with excitement as gymnastics icons Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, and Suni Lee took to the stage, marking their first reunion since the 2016 U.S. championships. All eyes were particularly fixed on Suni Lee, who faced a rollercoaster in 2023, ailing from her incurable kidney disease. However, despite the setbacks, she is determined to leave her mark in 2024, aiming for a coveted spot in the FIG’s Code of Points.

Since the beginning of the year, Suni has been dropping hints about “The Lee” – a move that sent the gymnastics world into a frenzy. With clips surfacing of her attempting a full-twisting, laid-out Jaeger on the uneven bars, anticipation is sky-high. However, despite two previous tries at the 2024 Winter Cup and 2024 America Classic, success had eluded her ahead of the 2024 Core Hydration Classic as well.

Suni Lee faces a fall on “The Lee” at Core Hydration Classic Podium Training

As the 2024 Core Hydration Classic approached, all eyes were on Suni once again as she geared up to tackle “The Lee” at podium training. But, as a name-sake fan account reported on X, it wasn’t smooth sailing. “Suni Lee’s Brutal Fall During 🙁“ Her fall left fans concerned for her well-being as she hit the mat with a resounding thud, her frustration evident.

Scott Bregman, the gymnastics reporter, also took to X and shared details about Suni Lee’s practice session after the fall. “Suni with another missed attempt at the ‘Lee.’ Shakes her head a bit as she’s walking off.“ Bregman commented, capturing the disappointment seen on her face as she made her way off the stage. Despite the setbacks, Suni’s determination remains unshaken.

With each attempt, she is showing not only her skill but also her resilience, leaving fans eagerly anticipating her redemption. As we await her performance on the main day of the competition, let us see how a phone call changed the narrative for Suni, who had spent 2023 ” rotting in my bed.“

How a phone call made Suni come back

Last year, Suni faced a challenging five months due to an incurable kidney disease. However, she shared with Olympic.com how things started to turn around for her at the start of the year when she received a phone call on January 4 that changed everything for her. She has, so far, declined to elaborate on the nature of the call but has said it made a giant impact. “It was just a simple phone call, I don’t’ know if I can really talk about it – I can’t really talk about it, but it was a simple phone call,” Lee explained.

She continued, “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m going back into the gym tomorrow and I’m going to be better than I ever was.’ That was the day I was like, ‘Yep, this is what I want. And I’m gonna put my mind into it.’” As she aims to defend her All-Around Olympic title, fans fervently anticipate her potential redemption at the 2024 Core Hydration Classic, paving her path to Paris.