PARIS, France — Suni Lee is wrapping up her time at the Paris Olympics with three medals: One gold and two bronze.
Between Tokyo and Paris, Lee has six medals. She is tied with Aly Raisman for third-most by an American gymnast at the Olympics, just behind Simone Biles (11) and Shannon Miller (7).
Lee started her run in Paris by helping the U.S. women's gymnastics team secure Olympic gold.
Two days later, the defending Olympic champion competed in the women's individual all-around final. Her performance put her on the podium with a bronze medal.
The 21-year-old's all-around medal makes her the first reigning Olympic champion to medal in the next games since Nadia Comaneci in 1980.
Lee continued to raise the bar when she earned her third Paris medal, taking home bronze in the uneven bars final.
On Monday, Lee finished her run in Paris on balance beam. After falling off the beam during her routine, Lee missed the podium and finished in fifth.
While it's not the finish Lee hoped for, she has cemented herself in Olympic history.
The celebrations in Paris were even sweeter given everything Lee has gone through in the past year.
In 2023, Lee was diagnosed with two rare kidney diseases.
"A year ago today I probably would've been laying in a hospital bed just praying to be better at the time," said Lee, after winning bronze in the all-around competition.
It ended her college career at Auburn early and left her bedridden at one point in December. In January, Lee returned to training.
Lee was not only dealing with her kidney issues, but her mental health.
She told reporter Scott Bregman for the Olympics, "I feel like a lot of it, too, was just kind of finding myself, just because I used to be very introverted. I didn't want to talk to anybody, like super shy... I think just being around the right people and having my coaches by my side, always joking, laughing with me and making feel comfortable inside the gym and enjoying my time there and me being able to express that I was enjoying my time, helped a lot."
"Here I am with my bronze medal. I'm so happy. I couldn't be happier or prouder of myself," Lee said.
Minnesotans also cheered on Lee during her time in Paris, holding watch parties and pep rallies for the St. Paul native.
"I never dreamed that I would know anybody in the Olympics and just to know that it's not just any Hmong person, it's my niece," said Malya Chang, Lee's aunt.
Lee had a message for everyone back at home saying, "I love you guys. Thank you so much for supporting me. I wouldn't be here without you and coming home with some hardware."