Suni Lee Prioritizes Hygiene in Gymnastics Training Amid Health Challenges

Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee has emphasized the importance of hygiene in gymnastics training, particularly regarding shared equipment like foam pits. Speaking during an April 2024 appearance on Complex’s “Ride or Die” podcast, Lee explained that she prefers using a personal foam pit for recovery due to concerns about cleanliness in communal facilities.

“The reason I love having my own is because the one in the gym is so gross. Little kids will like pee in it, throw up in it, there’s Band-Aids, dead skin cells. Kind of gross,” Lee said, highlighting unsanitary conditions she has encountered in shared training spaces.

Foam pits, commonly used in gymnastics for skill development and injury recovery, are soft landing areas filled with foam cubes. Lee noted that maintaining hygiene in these areas depends on both facility upkeep and individual awareness, acknowledging that responsibility is not solely on gym operators.

Her heightened focus on cleanliness stems from personal health challenges. Lee has lived with eczema since childhood and has faced two kidney-related health issues that impacted her training and competition schedule. After the 2024 Paris Olympics, she stepped back from training but returned in 2025 with a renewed commitment to protecting her health through better hygiene practices.

Lee, a six-time Olympic medalist, continues to train at the Midwest Gymnastics Center in Little Canada, Minnesota — the same facility where she began gymnastics at age six. Her advocacy brings attention to an often-overlooked aspect of athlete safety: the role of environmental hygiene in preventing infections and supporting long-term wellness, especially for athletes with pre-existing conditions.

As she balances recovery and training, Lee’s message underscores a broader need for improved sanitation standards in youth and elite sports facilities nationwide.