Gold medalist Sunisa Lee, the reigning Olympic all-around champion, has declined an invitation to compete at the upcoming world gymnastics championships. USA Gymnastics did not provide a reason for Lee’s decision not to participate in the selection camp, which will determine the five-woman team for the championships. Lee has been facing challenges in her training due to a kidney issue that forced her to end her NCAA season prematurely. At last month’s national championships, she only competed in balance beam and vault. Her coach, Jess Graba, explained that Lee’s training schedule depends on her reaction to medication and that there are good days and bad days. It had been expected that Lee would compete at the world championships as part of her comeback program, but she has chosen to focus on training for the Paris Games next summer instead.
Instead, Lee’s fellow Americans, including four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, and last year’s silver all-around medalist Shilese Jones, will be vying for spots on the team. The world championships, set to begin on September 30 in Antwerp, Belgium, presents an opportunity for the American team to win their record seventh consecutive title. Skye Blakely and Leanne Wong, who were part of last year’s world team, will also be competing at the selection camp. Nineteen gymnasts in total have been invited to the camp, where the final team will be determined.