NOTE: Watch Olympic gymnastics again in prime time on NBC 5 starting at 6:00 p.m. CT.
As she approached the bars for her third attempt at a medal-worthy performance at the 2024 Olympics, Suni Lee was seen muttering something to herself.
Words of affirmation.
It’s not entirely clear what exactly she says, but Lee can be seen muttering phrases like “you can do it” before beginning her medal-winning performance.
Lee has said similar things to herself every time she enters a competition.
Before her floor exercise in the women’s individual all-around final, Lee thought to herself: “You did it… the last one… it’s for me… the last one of my life.”
Lee was the United States’ only chance to win a gymnastics medal on Sunday and she won her third medal of the 2024 Olympics.
Lee, of Minnesota, has won medals in every event she has competed in so far, taking gold in the team all-around final, bronze in the individual all-around final and another bronze in the uneven bars final.
Lee finished the uneven bars with an incredible final score of 14.8, enough to put her on the podium in an event that even gymnastics GOAT Simone Biles didn’t qualify for.
The medal is the sixth of Lee’s Olympic career and places her in the same position as in Tokyo.
The crowd roared as Lee completed her exceptional routine and learned she was officially in podium position.
“I’m so happy this time,” Lee told reporters after arriving, close to tears.
Lee acknowledged she had to go through a lot to get to the Games, let alone another individual medal, after overcoming kidney disease and only training for six months to get to another Olympics.
“I told myself I wasn’t going to cry after my bar number… I’ve had to go through so much,” she said, adding, “I can’t believe I’m here.”
This won’t be Lee’s, or the United States’, last chance to win a gymnastics medal in Paris – and she stressed she’s not done yet.
“There’s still a lot to do. I feel like I still have a lot to redeem,” she said.
Team USA members Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee and Jade Carey put on spectacular performances to win gold in the women’s gymnastics all-around final on Tuesday.
Women’s Gymnastics Schedule: Beam Final on August 5
Biles and Lee will meet again in the balance beam final. The two athletes have traded their high-scoring balance beam routines throughout the 2024 season, and this competition promises to be an exciting one. Biles won bronze on balance beam in 2016 and 2020. Lee, on the other hand, has yet to medal in an Olympic balance beam final.
The balance beam finals begin at 5:36 a.m. CT on August 5. Streaming begins on E! at 4:45 a.m. CT and at 8:30 a.m. on NBC 5.
Women’s Gymnastics Program: Floor Final on August 5
The floor exercise final will be the final event of the women’s gymnastics competition at these Olympics. Biles and Jordan Chiles have both qualified.
For a full schedule of what to watch and which channel each event will be broadcast or streamed on, click here.
