With the pressure on, Suni Lee stepped up to the uneven bars last, knowing she'd have to turn in a near-perfect routine in order to get back onto the podium.
Three years ago, the 21-year-old took bronze in the same event at the Tokyo Games. At Sunday's event final, Lee was the only member of Team USA competing in the individual event following qualifications last week.
The women's uneven bars final was a nail-biter from start to finish. Of the eight athletes competing, two fell from the bars during their routines.
Despite those falls, Lee still had stiff competition. As she waited on the sidelines, Kaylia Nemour of Algeria and Qiu Qiyuan of China turned in high scores of 15.700 and 15.500, respectively.
Lee knew that she had to do better than Belgium's Nina Derwael, who had earned a 14.766.
It wouldn't be impossible. During these Games, Lee had already turned in three different uneven bar performances and reached a high score of 14.866.
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Suni Lee wins an uneven bars bronze medal with a fantastic routine in the final! #ParisOlympics
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 4, 2024
📺 NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/0V1TGS25sp
Lee delivered a thrilling final uneven bars performance and a score of 14.800, just enough to slide into third place and clinch the bronze medal. All of her Team USA teammates could see seen cheering her on from the stands.
"I think this one just meant so much more because last Olympics I got the bronze medal, but it obviously wasn't the routine I wanted," she said moments after winning bronze. "This time I was like 'even if I make podium and I get third place, whatever, it's better than the routine I did last time.'"
The uneven bars bronze is her third medal in Paris, but she's still not done. Lee will compete again on Monday in the balance beam finals.
What events will the USA gymnasts compete in?
Here is the finals schedule for the U.S. women's gymnastics athlete based on qualifications:
- Thursday, Aug. 1 - Simone Biles and Suni Lee qualified for the all-around event.
- Saturday, Aug. 3 - Simone Biles and Jade Carey qualified for the vault event.
- Sunday, Aug. 4 - Suni Lee qualified for the uneven bars.
- Monday, Aug. 5 - Simone Biles and Suni Lee qualified for the balance beam finals.
- Monday, Aug. 5 - Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles qualified for the floor exercise finals.
When are the remaining women's artistic gymnastics events?
Aug. 5 - Women's balance beam finals: The women's balance beam finals begin at 6:36 a.m. ET/3:36 a.m. PT on Monday, Aug. 5. The event will air on E! and Peacock.
Aug. 5 - Women's floor exercise finals: The women's floor exercise final begins at 8:20 a.m. ET/5:20 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 5. The event will air on NBC and Peacock.
What TV channel is the women's gymnastics event on?
Most of the gymnastics events will air live on NBC and Peacock. Some will also air on E!. If you miss the live airing of the event, most, if not all, will reair each night in Primetime in Paris on NBC starting at 8 p.m. ET, except Sundays when coverage starts at 7 p.m.
Here are Team USA women's gymnastics remaining events
- Balance beam: Simone Biles and Suni Lee
- Floor exercise: Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles
