2024 Olympics: Why Suni Lee Was in "Shock" Over Scoring Bronze Medal

Olympian Suni Lee did not expect to earn any medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics before taking home the bronze at the women's gymnastics all-around finals Aug. 1.

By Corinne Heller Aug 02, 2024 7:02 PM
| Updated Aug 02, 2024 8:52 PM
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Watch: 2024 Olympics: Simone Biles Wins Gold at Gymnastics All-Around Final

Suni Lee is completely floored by her 2024 Paris Olympics milestone.

That’s because the 21-year-old didn't expect to win any medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics women's gymnastics all-around final.

So when the Team USA athlete's floor routine score flipped her from fourth to third place in the Aug. 1 individual competition to earn the bronze, she was stunned.

"It felt absolutely amazing. I was in shock," Lee told Today Aug. 2. "I didn't think that I was going to be able to podium."

The gymnast continued, "Coming in my floor routine, I literally told myself, we're just going to end it off the right way and I'm just going to do everything that I can to just finish it off, because being here is an accomplishment itself."

Her teammate Simone Biles, the decorated American gymnast of all-time, took home the gold medal in the final, while Brazil's Rebeca Andrade won silver.

"I honestly started getting a little bit emotional," Lee recalled about her realization that she had won bronze, which marked her fifth Olympic medal. "I almost started tearing up. I was just like so happy."

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2024 Olympics: Suni Lee Wins Bronze During Gymnastics All-Around Final

Biles and Lee had also helped Team USA earn gold at the team all-around final July 30. The two are set to compete individually again in the coming days—both in the balance beam finals, while Biles is also set to perform in the vault and floor exercise contests while Lee qualified for the uneven bars event.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Lee, who won a gold medal at the individual all-around event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021, made it to Paris amid a health battle. Last year, she was diagnosed with two kidney diseases, which caused her symptoms such as water retention, which made her gain more than 40 pounds.

Naomi Baker/Getty Images

Lee has reflected on her health journey several times since qualifying for the 2024 Olympics.

"From being told that I would never be able to do gymnastics again," she wrote on Instagram Aug. 2. "to winning my 5th olympic medal!!"

The Olympian continued, "This medal goes deeper than gymnastics. I can't even begin to express how much my health has taken away from me & the strength it has taught me, so to be here is the greatest achievement of all. grateful for the opportunity to be able to represent team USA at my second Olympic games! Thank you for all the support."

(E!, Today and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family.)

Read on to see candid moments from the 2024 Olympics...

Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

LeBron James and Steph Curry were definitely feeling it after the USA men's basketball team beat Serbia to advance to the finals.

2 Become 1

Xu Shixiao and Sun Mengya from Team China were clearly working together during the women's canoe double 500-meter semifinal.

Come On, Gold!

Team USA's Sha'carri Richardson picked up her first gold in the women's 4x100-meter relay.

A Most Iconic Duo

Everyone's favorite BFFs Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart hitched a ride on a golf cart.

High Kicks

Team China's Liang Yushuai gave folks a new photo pose to try next time they visit the Eiffel Tower.

Careful With the Bike!

Dutch cyclist Harrie Lavreysen was very enthusiastic about nabbing a second gold medal.

Shock and Awe

Emma Roberts couldn't believe what she was seeing during the men's semi-final basketball match between the USA and Serbia.

Chomping On the Gold

Tara Davis-Woodhall of Team USA went for the customary biting of the medal after winning gold in the women's long jump.

Don't Lose Your Shirt

Sergio Camello of Spain found his own way to celebrate after scoring his fifth goal against France.

A Trip to Sesame Street

Elmo loves getting hugs from Simone Biles.

Tuck It In

Emilia Nilsson Garip of Sweden dove into the water during the women's 3 meters springboard final.

A Slam Dunk

Gabrielle Union was cheering on Team USA as they went head-to-head with Serbia in the men's basketball semi-final match.

Nothing Left For Them To Do But Dance

Team Spain got into the groove during the rhythmic gymnastics competition.

Royal Onlookers

Ben-Sylvester Strautmann, Alexandra de Hanovre, Prince Albert of Monaco and Alain Bernard cheer while at the Men's Team Bronze medal match.

Double the Fun

Paulina Paszek and Jule Marie Hake of Team Germany celebrate earning third place in the Women's kayak double 500m final.

Zoom In

Carmelo Anthony wanted to remember the moment as he and son Kiyan Anthony watched Team USA beat Serbia in men's basketball.

A Queen

Team USA's Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone celebrated after breaking her own record and winning gold in the women's 400m hurdles final.

Twisting Every Which Way

Elzhana Taniyeva of Kazakhstan showed off her very impressive range at the rhythmic gymnastics Individual all round.

Parisian Pride

One fan really wanted everyone to know which country he was rooting for.

Go, Dad, Go

Bronny James cheered on father LeBron James as Team USA took on Serbia in the Men's basketball semifinals competition.

Quick Break

Noah Lyles of Team USA needed a second after competing in the men's 200m final.

Not the Face!

Great Britain's Bradly Sinden tried to protect the goods during the Men's Taekwondo 68kg quarterfinals.

Dance It Out

Italy's Milena Baldassarri put on quite the show during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around competition.

Yee-Haw!

Tara David-Woodhall pulled out the cowboy hat after winning gold in women's long jump competition.

Flying Through the Air

Team USA's Tom Schaar put on quite the aerial display while competing in the men's park skateboarding final.

Go Team!

USA's water polo team was full of excitement as they beat Australia and advanced to the semifinals. 

Going for the Ball

The game was heated as the USA took on Nigeria in the women's quarterfinal basketball match.

One Final Hurdle

Grant Holloway repped the USA after winning the gold medal in the Men's 110m hurdles final.

Do You Even Lift?

Venezuela's Katherin Echandia Zarate showed that she never skips arm day during the weightlifting competition.

An Unfortuante Spill

Michelle Jenneke of Australia didn't quite clear her hurdle in her Women's 100m heat.

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