Suni Lee Announces She's Ending Her College Gymnastics Career Early Due to a Kidney Condition

The gold medalist says, though, that she expects to be ready for the Paris Olympics in 2024

Olympic gold medalist Sunisa Lee has announced she will end her college career at Auburn early due to a kidney issue.

The Team USA gymnast, 20, shared a health update today on Twitter and Instagram, explaining that she has been suffering a "non-gymnastics related issue involving my kidneys."

Lee, the first-ever Hmong-American Olympic gold medalist said Auburn's medical team did not clear her to train over the past few weeks for her own safety. "I am blessed and thankful to be working with the best specialized medical team to treat and manage my diagnosis. My focus at this time is my health and recovery," the athlete said.

Lee, 20, had been competing for Auburn in the NCAA since Jan. 2021, but the health issue means her collegiate career is now over.

"It's been challenging to end my Auburn career early, but I am thankful for all of the love and support," she said on Twitter, adding: "I want to especially thank my doctors, coaches and the Auburn medical staff for their care during this time."

Related:Sunisa Lee, First Hmong American Olympic Gymnast, Talks Achieving Her Dream and Being an Inspiration

Lee, who was the Toyko Olympics all-around gymnastics champion, said she was proud of her Auburn team for their "determination and resilience this season." She added, "Auburn, thank you for the best two years of my life and for giving me the opportunity to make history alongside this amazing group. I am forever grateful for this community."

And while the health setback has derailed Lee's college career, she still has her eyes set on competing in the next Olympics. "I will not stop pursuing my dreams for a bid to Paris in 2024. In fact, this experience has sharpened my vision for the future," Lee said.

Lee finished her social media announcement with the phrase "War eagle," the Alabama school's battle cry.

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The Minneapolis athlete had already announced in November that this would be her last season in college gymnastics.

In a video shared on social media at the time, she said: "Today I am sharing a decision that has weighed on me a really long time," the Dancing with the Stars alum said in the video. "As an athlete that has competed at the highest level on the world's biggest stage I've been fortunate enough to experience that once-in-a-lifetime feeling and the indescribable emotion when the gold medal is draped around your neck. But I don't want it to just be once in a lifetime."

Related:Olympic Gold Medalist Suni Lee Flips into an Epic First Pitch at Minnesota Twins Game

The gymnast shared that competing for Auburn University was a dream of hers and that she had learned so much about "myself, true teamwork and about community during my time here."

Lee then said after the season ends, she was going to turn her attention exclusively to training for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. "This will be my last season competing at Auburn University," she shared in the November 2022 video update. "I'm so excited to share that after this season I will be returning to elite gymnastics. I have my sights set on Paris in 2024 and I know what I have to do to get there. I'm looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and putting in the work."

Speaking to PEOPLE prior to the Tokyo Olympics about what it meant to represent the USA and compete at an elite level, Lee said: "I want to do it for my family and coaches obviously, but I also want to do it for myself. I've just been through so much."

After the stunning win in Tokyo, Lee told reporters: "Coming into this competition, I didn't even think that I could be competing for a gold medal," she said. "I was coming to compete for a silver medal. To be here, it's crazy."

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