“Oh my Mama. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I am so sorry.”
Suni Lee is sharing the spotlight with someone near and dear to her heart.
The 22-year-old, six-time Olympic medalist was nominated for the 2025 ESPY Award for Best Comeback Athlete, according to ESPN, after winning three medals in gymnastics at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
The performance came one year after she revealed that she was diagnosed with an incurable kidney condition.
RELATED: Kentucky Priest Creates Moment of Humanity After Shouting 4 Simple Words at Kate Middleton
On July 16, Lee stunned on the 2025 ESPYs red carpet with an “ornate Oscar de la Renta gown that was embroidered with metallic leaf details,” according to Harper’s Bazaar.
And she was joined by the same doctor who has been treating her kidney condition.
"It's her first time on a red carpet,” Lee told ESPN, per People. “So it's really fun for the both of us. But she was the one person who actually believed in me whenever I was going through everything.”
She went on to describe her latest Olympic run as “one of the hardest things” she has ever done.
"There were so many times where I wanted to quit gymnastics, and also I just didn't believe in myself,” she said, according to People.
“I mean, having a doctor, quite literally, tell you that you're never going to be able to do this again, it's kind of like – it's very heartbreaking one, because it was out of my control,” she added.
“But also the Olympics has always been my dream, so yeah, I guess it was just very surreal to be here, and I'm just so proud to be where I am right now,” she concluded.
Lee, who joined Auburn University in 2021, per ESPN, announced in November 2022 that she would be ending her college career early in order to train for the 2024 Olympics.
In April 2023, Lee announced her kidney diagnosis — nearly one year before the Olympics took place.
“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,” she shared in a statement on X.
While she has remained mum on the type of condition she has, Lee later revealed that she had not one, but two kidney diseases, according to Sports Illustrated.
Nonetheless, she proudly represented Team USA at the 2024 Olympics the following year.
The gymnastics star went on to win a gold medal in the women's team all-around and bronze medals in both the individual all-around and the uneven bars, according to Team USA.
Lee already had three Olympic medals under her belt from the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, including a gold medal in the individual all-around category, according to Olympics.com.
Lee shouts out her doctors and coaches in ESPYs speech
Lee’s win at the ESPYS — the first of her career, despite three nominations — was an impressive one.
She beat out Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn, who returned to the sport after retiring in 2019, per NPR, and USWNT star Mallory Swanson, who suffered a torn patellar tendon injury in 2023, per the Olympics.
Lee also beat Colorado Avalanche team captain Gabe Landeskog, who returned to the ice for the 2025 playoffs after missing three years due to a knee injury, per the NHL.
But Lee’s three Olympic medals were enough to win the votes for Best Comeback Athlete.
In her acceptance speech, Lee gave her doctors and coaches a strong shout out.
“To Dr. Marcia Faustin, she's actually here in the crowd with me today," Lee said, per ESPN. "Thank you for guiding me through the toughest moments, reading every scan and report by my side."
According to UC Davis, Dr. Faustin is “the Associate Team Physician for the UC Davis Division I Collegiate Athletics team and co-Head Team Physician for the USA Gymnastics Women's National Team.
She also shouted out her coaches for never giving up on her.
“Even when things looked impossible,” she said in the speech. “I’m so proud we never took no for an answer.”
Earlier in the speech, she admitted that she was told she would “never compete again” after being diagnosed with her kidney condition.
“But I refused to believe that,” she said. “There were days when I felt scared and defeated and alone, but I always found strength around me.”
ALSO ON MOD MOMS CLUB: Naomi Osaka shouts out her daughter during otherwise ‘negative’ postgame interview
Lee was previously nominated for two ESPY awards in 2022, including Best Female Athlete and Best Female Olympian, according to ESPN.
