After all, Lee’s return to the mat at the Olympics came after a difficult health battles. In 2023, she was diagnosed with two kidney diseases, which caused her to gain more than 40 pounds from water retention and prompted her to take six months off training before returning to the gym this past January to compete for a place on the U.S. Olympic team.
“Nobody knows this, but the week before the Olympic trials,” she said, “I had to get an infusion because I went into a relapse.”
Now, after her 2024 Olympic journey, Lee is in a better place in her life.
“Not even just physically but mentally, to where I can accept everything that’s happened,” the six-time Olympic medalist said. “Not many people get to come here twice and compete with the best of the best. I just felt absolutely amazing. And now I’ve learned to really take everything in, and I think that’s why I’m so happy with all of my medals.”
Look back at some of the most emotional moments at the 2024 Olympics…
