NEW YORK – Olympic champion Sunisa Lee has said that the kidney disease that had threatened her gymnastics career is in remission, and she feels better than ever as she bids for a spot on the United States team for Paris 2024.

The 21-year-old, who won the all-around gold at the Tokyo Olympics, revealed late in 2023 that the disease caused her face, fingers and legs to swell and made it difficult at times to even get out of bed.

“I was really nervous and obviously very sad because gymnastics is all I know,” the American told Reuters at a Team USA media summit in New York on April 15.

“Getting sick was very random. It kind of happened one Tuesday and it’s something you can’t wrap your head around.”

Lee also said that the uncommon disease caused her to gain 20kg of water weight.

“I kept flying off the bar because my fingers were so swollen that they didn’t fit into my grips,” she said, adding that treatment has made the incurable condition manageable.

“Now that I am doing a lot better, I am so grateful for the way that things turned out.”

The youngster, while not in the most ideal condition, said she still feels great in training and she is looking forward to the Olympic trials in her home state of Minnesota in June.

“Being in the gym consistently, I realised that I am so much better now with my gymnastics – even better than I was at the last Olympics – and that has motivated me,” she said.

Lee has been helped along on her difficult journey by four-time Olympic gold medallist Simone Biles, who withdrew from the team competition in Tokyo citing mental health issues.

“She is someone who inspires me every day,” she said. “She has helped me to be a lot more open about talking about my mental health.”

The Paris Games, which will run from July 26 to Aug 11, will be another mountain to climb.

Lee said that despite reaching the summit in Tokyo in 2021, when as an 18-year-old she won the all-around title as well as bronze in the uneven bars and silver in the team event, she feels even more pressure now.

“I’m just trying to prove to myself that I deserve to be there,” she said.

Meanwhile, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee has raised the bar on mental health services in sport, said Jess Bartley, its senior director of psychological services.

The topic of mental health was thrust to the fore thanks in part to Biles.

“There doesn’t have to be anything wrong with you to focus on your mental health,” said Bartley.

“We have just really, really improved, the level of service, the quality of service, that all of these athletes can get when it comes to mental health. And I don’t think we’re done.”

Sleep hygiene has become a major focus going into this summer’s Games, she added.

“We’re going to talk about jet lag and how to put your sleep hygiene first, as we move not only into Paris, but then on to LA (Los Angeles 2028).” REUTERS