After a turbulent 2023 battling kidney issues and mental health struggles, Sunisa “Suni” Lee found solace in journaling—a daily ritual that helped her untangle her emotions. With pen in hand, she poured out her thoughts, turning pages into a safe space where she could release everything she otherwise kept bottled up. “I write how I feel because I’m a very private and quiet person. So whenever it comes to my feelings, I keep it all in until I just burst. To keep that under control, I like to journal and get out everything I feel,” Suni said in an interaction with CBS News. But that was last year. With the Paris Olympics looming back then, her life revolved around preparation. But what about now?
Things have shifted. Although Suni is spending less time on the gymnastics mat, she hasn’t lost her drive for growth. Instead, she’s leaning into new hobbies—ones that nurture her creativity and bring her peace. And you might get a different vibe if you come to know about one of her new hobbies. Move over, balance beams and uneven bars—Sunisa Lee is trading her chalked-up hands for a controller! Confused?
On March 26, the Olympic gold medalist gave fans a peek into her latest obsession, sharing a photo on her Instagram story with the caption: “guysss i’ve been obsessed with fortnite lately … why is it so fun omg big dubs.” The post featured her gaming setup, complete with Fortnite’s vibrant interface glowing on a large screen—locked and loaded for some battle royale action. So, is Suni perfecting her concentration, sharpness, or any certain feature that usually gets improved by playing video games? Or is it just for fun?
You never know because Suni Lee has yet to shed light on that. But for someone who’s spent years perfecting gravity-defying routines, Suni’s love for Fortnite proves that she’s just like the rest of us—celebrating every ‘Victory Royale’ with pure excitement. Whether she’s building towering forts, strategizing her loadouts, or pulling off sneaky eliminations, she’s clearly diving headfirst into the virtual mayhem. On the other hand, while fans are used to seeing Suni dominate on the mat, they’re now catching glimpses of her competitive streak in the gaming world. And judging by her “big dubs” comment, the Olympian’s already racking up some impressive wins.
Also, her points prove it! Well, the screen displayed, “#1 Victory Royale.” A game fan would know that means that Suni did finish the game by placing first! Also, a podium finisher, we must say. She also ended up collecting 75 bars. Also, her survival points showed 8,750. Needless to say, that’s impressive as well! So, could we see her teaming up with fellow gymnasts or streaming her matches soon? Again, nothing has come out on that. Similarly, we do not yet know about Lee’s gymnastics future. How so? Let’s get into that discussion!
Suni Lee’s future on mats is still under debate
In mid-March, Suni Lee sent gymnastics fans into a frenzy by sharing a clip of herself nailing a flawless Yeager release on the uneven bars—her first attempt in over seven months. Despite the clip cutting off before her dismount, her sharp execution sparked hope for a comeback. But just days later, retirement rumors reignited!
Jun 30, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Sunisa Lee looks on prior to the U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
On March 20, a video of Yang Fanyuwei successfully performing the full-twisting Jaeger at the 2025 Antalya World Cup surfaced. The move, once meant to be Suni’s signature skill, was now officially named after the Chinese gymnast—a devastating blow for Suni, who never had the chance to debut it globally because of her health struggles. The result? Now, Suni’s future hangs in the balance. She even replied to a comment, “does this kills sunis chances of coming back,” on the clip with a “yes.” But her recent Yeager clip proves she still has the skills, while the emotional sting of losing her signature move may have dampened her motivation.
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