Medal No. 3! Suni Lee Takes Bronze in Uneven Bars Final at 2024 Paris Olympics: 'I'm Really Proud of Myself'

The road to Paris was a difficult one for Lee, making Sunday’s success all the more sweet

The third time’s the charm for Suni Lee in Paris!

The Team USA gymnast, 21, took home a bronze medal in the uneven bars final on Sunday, Aug. 4 at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

She came in third behind Kaylia Nemour of Algeria, who scored a 15.700, and Qiyuan Qiu of China, who scored 15.500. Lee earned a 14.800.

The new hardware marks the third bronze medal for Lee, who has already won a gold medal in the team final and a bronze in the all-around final this Olympics cycle. She previously won bronze in the uneven bars event in Tokyo in 2021.

Lee said that this bronze was "so much more meaningful."

"I told myself I was coming back to redeem myself on bars," she told reporters, including PEOPLE, after earning her medal. "And that's what I did this time."

Lee added that she enjoyed going last this time, instead of first like she did in Tokyo, and made a point to watch and cheer on all of her competitors.

"This time I was like, I'm not going to miss these routines because they're so good. Because it's not the same when you watch it on a replay. So I just wanted to see and I was just so happy because all the girls deserve it."

The road to Paris has been a difficult one for Lee, making Sunday’s success all the more sweet.

Related: Everything Suni Lee Has Said About Her Incurable Kidney Disease

In April 2023, Lee announced that she was ending her college career at Auburn early due to an undisclosed kidney condition. In September, the same illness forced her to opt out of world championship team selection camp.

The athlete finally resumed training in January 2024 after her doctor told her that her medications were working well, she told The New York Times.

"The past couple of days I've been flooded with messages from people saying they've had chronic illnesses and the things they've had to deal with," Lee said after the uneven bars final on Aug. 4. "So it's a really good feeling, knowing that I can inspire others, especially because I've spent a lot of months in my lowest."

"Everything she's been through this past year and a half, being able to overcome a lot of health things that she was dealing with — she talked about not being able to hold on to the bar at one point. And now she's a medalist at the Olympics," Lee's coach, Jess Graba, told reporters.

Related: Sixth Time's the Charm! Simone Biles Wins Gold in Paris Olympics All-Around Final as Suni Lee Earns Bronze

Graba said that several months ago, the idea of Lee standing tall on a podium seemed far-off. But with hard work and an unwavering sense of belief in herself, she rose to the occasion.

"I feel like she had everything to lose, coming back," Graba continued. "You know, there was really nothing for her to prove except to herself. I felt relieved, because I just want her to feel proud."

Soon after, Lee said exactly that.

"I'm really proud of myself," she said. "This time around has just been so much more amazing."

Lee will next compete in the balance beam final on Aug. 5.

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