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Fighting Incurable Kidney Disease, Suni Lee Gets Emotional Over Life After Gymnastics Success

Remember when USA’s women’s gymnastics team successfully pulled off their redemption tour in the Bercy Arena? For Suni Lee, it wasn’t just about chasing Olympic glory. It was about about overcoming an insurmountable challenge. In 2023, the gymnast had to deal with one of the biggest hurdles of her life. There used to be a time when she couldn’t even grip the uneven bars because her body was so swollen. The 21-year-old was severely ill.

Yet, none of that mattered when she stepped into the French capital. The Olympian proved her mettle at Bercy Arena with sheer determination and resilience. She didn’t just nab one or two Olympic medals. She snagged three – 1 gold and 2 bronze. With this, she became the first American woman to bag two medals in two consecutive events on the uneven bars. Isn’t this what fables are made of? However, as the dust settles on her dreamy Parisian stint, the 21-year-old can’t help but look back on her journey and marvel at how far she’s come.

Suni Lee expresses gratitude for the uplifting journey

It’s no surprise the gymnast turned heads at the French capital. But there came a point where she didn’t think this would be possible. However, she now boasts six Olympic medals, one of which is a shiny individual all-around gold from the 2020 Tokyo Games. On November 17, the Olympian shared a selfie in her apartment with a heartwarming caption, “being emotional but sitting in my apt thinking about everything i’ve been through this year and I am SO PROUD OF MYSELF for never giving up🥺”

In 2023, the 21-year-old withdrew from a promising collegiate gymnastics career. While the world wasn’t aware of what led to that decision, she eventually revealed battling with 2 incurable kidney diseases. It left her eyes swollen shut and gained 45 lbs in the two weeks. Undeterred, she wanted to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics. But it was a tough battle to fight, given how she couldn’t even walk up a flight of stairs.

As a result, dragging herself to the gym every day was the hardest thing to do. She wanted to stay away because she was guilty. She didn’t want to let down the little girls in the gym. Solely because she wasn’t able to do a lot of things. Yet, when she did go to the gym, her coaches would have to keep buckets ready because her medications would make her extremely nauseous.

Suni Lee

The gymnast also hoped to turn back time. Yet, she came across another hurdle leading up to the Summer Games. What really happened?

The Olympian hit a minor bump

Suni Lee’s journey leading up to the Games was nothing short of extraordinary. But the road to the French capital wasn’t smooth sailing. Shortly before the Olympic Trials, the gymnast went into a relapse. As a result, she had to get an infusion. However, this worked in her favor. Before getting it, she had bad fatigue and couldn’t train to her best potential.

Yes, she had changed her routine to the best of her advantage. Despite this, she pushed herself through the Olympic Trials and successfully punched her ticket to the French capital! In Bercy Arena, she knocked it out of the park by clinching 3 Olympic medals. However, self-doubt nearly kept her off the podium.

The gymnast had been through a whirlwind leading up to the Games. She wasn’t the least bit confident. But this didn’t go too well with Simone Biles. She decided to give her a pep talk, motivating her to walk in like the reigning Olympic champion. The 11x Olympic medalist reminded her she was good enough to be at the Games and was on the team for a reason.

The gymnast gives them a shoutout on her Instagram story. “I’m so blessed to live this amazing life with the most amazing people surrounded by me ❤️” Now that she’s done with the Summer Games, there’s a world of opportunities for the 21-year-old. What will she do next?

Suni Lee Radiates Angelic Beauty in Brown Two-Piece for SI Swimsuit BTS Photos

The 21-year-old Olympic gymnast posed for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit earlier this month and the behind the shots are breathtaking.

All month long, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit has been excitedly announcing the first group of our 2025 magazine lineup, featuring a long list of incredible athletes. One of our first announced was Suni Lee, the two-time Olympic gold medalist who flew to Boca Raton, Fla. to be photographed by Ben Horton. While you’ll have to wait until next May to see her full spread of photos, we have released a few official images of Lee wearing a simple yet stunning brown two-piece by St. Agni.

The official images of Lee were simply flawless, so it should come as no surprise that the behind the scenes photos from her shoot day are just as beautiful. As we inch closer to the 2025 issue, we’re happy to share some BTS sneak peeks from the athlete’s shoots, including the former Auburn Tigers gymnastics team member. With the perfect Floridian sun and the mesmerizing blue pool water, Lee had the perfect backdrop to make her SI Swimsuit debut.

But of course, it’s her beauty—inside and out—that does all of the work. Enjoy seven exclusive BTS shots from Lee’s SI Swimsuit photo shoot below.

Suni Lee

It’s no surprise that the SI Swimsuit community has embraced Lee’s introduction so well, with several fellow models showing support on the brand’s Instagram.

Suni Lee

The gymnast, who made her Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games where she won gold, returned for the Paris Games this summer, where she won bronze and helped Team USA walk away with first place in women’s gymnastics. After being diagnosed with kidney disease—which forced her to end her college career early—Lee partnered with the American Kidney Fund on the organization’s Know Your Kidneys initiative. Clearly, Lee is a very busy woman, but she’s enjoying a bit of time off now that she’s relocated to New York City post-Olympics, and wants to focus on working with fashion and beauty brands.

While speaking with Glamour in early October, Lee described who she is outside of gymnastics: “She’s fun, she’s energetic, outgoing, very brave. But not a lot of people see that, and it’s something that I want to expand on more. I think fashion can be a really good way to express yourself.”

As we wait for the 2025 SI Swimsuit magazine to hit stands next May, be sure to check out our coverage of the athlete lineup so far. They’re all truly incredible in their respective sport and in front of the camera.

Coping From Incurable Disease, Suni Lee Gets Emotional Amidst Gymnastics Break: “Never Giving Up”

For gymnasts, the window to make something out of their career choice is relatively smaller than most other athletes. But that was only one part of Suni Lee’s challenges. In 2021, the Auburn star reached the top of the sport when she won the All-Around gold in Tokyo. But life came crashing right after her triumph. But Lee didn’t let her kidney disease dictate her life.

Instead, Sunisa took control of her life and dreams and made a comeback in Paris this year, which will surely go down as one of the greatest returns to the limelight of all time. But thankfully, she had some shoulders to lean on and an unwavering support system that helped Lee maintain composure during her rough patch. And now, as the 2x Olympic champ takes a break from gymnastics, she can’t help but feel grateful for all those who stood by her at every step.

In her recent Instagram story, Suni Lee recalled what a rollercoaster of a ride 2024 has been for her. From deciding to sign up for the US Classic to going on to win team gold in Paris at the 33rd Olympic Games, the 21-year-old has had a year to remember, to say the least. Noting the same, Lee wrote on her IG update, “Being emotional but sitting in my apt thinking about everything I’ve been thru this year and I am SO PROUD OF MYSELF for never giving up.” She went on to express her gratitude: “I’m so blessed to be able to live this amazing life with the most amazing people surrounded by me.

However, her uplifted spirit might have something to do with the festive season that will soon be upon us. In her previous IG story, the Olympian shared how she’s been organizing her quaint apartment and how she’s hitting the stores to make sure she has everything to celebrate the upcoming holidays. “Fav time of the year,” confessed Lee, and seemingly, that has given her a reason to sit back and reflect on how far she’s come in her life.

 

Right after her seminal career point in Japan three years ago, Lee was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease, which the doctors claimed could not be cured. Naturally, the news came as a blow to the guts, and Suni quit her NCAA season mid-way through 2023 to recover her health. However, she was determined not to let the setback take away her elite career as well, and she returned to action in August 2023 for the US Classic. And she hasn’t looked back since, as the City of Love stood to witness in 2024. But it seems like Lee’s hunger for life has only grown and she’s not afraid to tread on uncharted waters.

Suni Lee isn’t afraid to expand her horizons

Shortly after her successful Paris campaign, Lee made heads turn again. This time for the New York Fashion Week. But that wasn’t her only business in NYC. Deciding to give herself a break from all the action, Lee is setting up home at the Big Apple in New York and was understandably eager to show up at one of the most coveted fashion shows on the planet. “I’m excited for a new chapter, and happy I get to do it in New York. I moved a day before hitting the ground running for NYFW,” she told Vogues while also mentioning how she’s looking forward to doing daily errands like getting coffee and buying groceries.

Her love for fashion also spilled over to her work life, where she joined hands with LoveShackFancy to make ripples in the glam world as well. But that’s not all! With moving to New York, Lee also hopes to start her journey as a YouTube vlogger, as she intends to bring more BTS snippets from her life to her fans. Her hint about becoming a social media personality has Lee’s fans speculating when they’ll get to see her drop the first vlog. Are you among those fans waiting to see Suni’s next big adventure? Tell us your feelings in a comment!

Miles Away From Jonathan Owens, Simone Biles Gushes Over First NFL Deal: “It’s About Kicking Back”

They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, and for Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens, that couldn’t be more true. This power couple has shown time and again just how much they adore each other, even though their hectic schedules often keep them apart. Since her Olympic triumph, Simone’s been all over the place—from headlining the Gold Over America Tour to promoting her documentary. Meanwhile, Jonathan’s tied up with a grueling NFL season playing for the Chicago Bears. And while they make time for the occasional dinner date, Simone’s admitted, “Long distance isn’t easy.”

Despite the miles, the couple recently turned heads with a sweet moment at Soldier Field on Sunday, November 10. However, based on their latest Instagram stories, the distance is back in play—Simone is training in Texas at the World Championship Center, while Jonathan’s in Chicago, spreading good vibes and food at the BBF Family Center. But here’s the twist: Simone’s now planning to be there for a big game in Jonathan’s career, thanks to a sponsorship she recently scored with an official NFL partner.

Simone Biles marks her first collaboration with the NFL through a crucial sponsor

On November 12th, California wine brand Barefoot raised a toast to a new partnership with none other than Simone Biles. Already a fan favorite on the NFL sidelines cheering for husband Jonathan Owens, Simone’s star power was the perfect pairing for Barefoot’s mission to make wine more accessible and fun for everyone. As the NFL’s official wine sponsor since 2022, Barefoot is aiming high with Simone, the GOAT herself, to reach fans from all backgrounds.

And they’re celebrating with an exclusive experience—Barefoot’s NFL Game Day Contest Winner will join Simone in the “Bandwagon Box” Suite, a luxury spot to catch the Chicago Bears take on the Green Bay Packers on November 17th. The winner even gets to bring three friends along for the game, which just so happens to be a big one for Jonathan, facing off against his former team for the first time as a Bear.

Simone is thrilled about this first-time NFL collab, saying, “You don’t need to know every play or every grape to enjoy both,” and adding, “It’s about kicking back and having a great time together.” With her easygoing approach and Barefoot’s playful vibe, this partnership is bound to be a fan favorite. Naturally, given the GOAT she is, this isn’t the only one of the notable sponsorships Simone has bagged throughout her illustrious career.

The notable sponsorships during Simone Biles’ career

Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens

Simone Biles’ stellar career hasn’t just dazzled fans—it’s had brands lining up for her signature. Among the long-term partners she’s chosen, Athleta tops the list. Since joining forces in 2021 after her departure from Nike, Simone Biles has become the face of the sportswear brand. “I partnered with Athleta because they saw confidence in me, and they just have such a huge platform, and I like how they said they inspire me in the gym and out of the gym,” she told NBC. Athleta also threw its weight behind her Gold Over America Tour, now a nationwide hit that just wrapped up its second edition.

Another key partner, GK Elite, has been in Simone’s corner since 2015, designing the signature leotards she and Team USA rock at the Olympics. Simone Biles renewed with them in 2021, cementing their bond. And then there’s Spieth America, her gymnastics equipment sponsor, who locked in a decade-long contract to support her with the tools she needs for greatness.

Many brands have dreamed of landing Simone, but only a handful have managed to keep up with her vision. Barefoot Wine now joins this exclusive list, and fans can’t wait to see how this collaboration will sparkle.

Miles Away From Simone Biles, Husband Jonathan Owens Gets Fans’ Support for Wholesome Venture: “So Thoughtful”

Distance, distance, distance—it feels like an uphill battle! But despite the miles between them, Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens are a shining example that love can stand the test of time, no matter how busy life gets. Since tying the knot in April last year, they’ve had to juggle their careers—Biles with her gymnastics fame and Owens as a safety for the Chicago Bears.

Even with their plates full, they manage to keep their marriage in tip-top shape. This year, Jonathan Owens continued his tradition of giving back by partnering with the K.W.O.E. Foundation for his third annual Thanksgiving Holiday Drive. The event, held at the BBF Center For The Arts, saw Owens signing autographs for fans and, alongside other volunteers, distributing meals and gifts to 500 families.

Meanwhile, while Simone was celebrating Simone Biles Rising winning a Critics Choice Award for Best Sports Documentary, Jonathan was showing his love in a different way—dedicating his time to supporting the community in Chicago. He shared a series of pictures on his Instagram from the event, showing him and volunteers handing out large bags filled with donations and captioning them, “It’s a blessing to be a blessing.”

Owens could have easily spent this time with Simone, who had just wrapped up her Gold Over America tour, but instead, he chose to roll up his sleeves and get involved. It’s clear he is dedicated to making a difference, showing that giving back is as important as any personal achievement. While Simone was celebrating her own success, Jonathan was busy spreading holiday cheer, proving that love isn’t just about the good times together but also about supporting each other’s goals and uplifting the community, and this makes their fans prouder.

Fans are going wild over Jonathan Owens’ and Simone Biles big move

Simone Biles and Jonathan

One fan said, “Blessings on blessings,” and another chimed in with, “This is powerful, Jowen!” But let’s be clear—Jonathan Owens isn’t just Simone Biles’ husband; he’s got his own story. Jonathan Owens entered the NFL in 2018 when he signed with the Arizona Cardinals. However, his rookie season was plagued by a knee injury.

In 2019, the Houston Texans signed him to their practice squad, and by January 2020, he had earned a reserve/future contract with the team. But beyond being married to one of the greatest Olympic gymnasts ever, Owens is a pro athlete too. In 2024, the 29-year-old joined the Chicago Bears on a two-year contract. Pretty impressive, right?

Fans are definitely excited about Jonathan Owens being a Bear! One wrote, “So happy you’re a Bear 🐻⬇️💙🧡,” while another said, “So thoughtful of you, to think of others. Let’s Go Bears!” Another fan chimed in with, “Thank you for your off the field contributions to our great city! We appreciate you.” It’s clear that Jonathan has a lot of support, but while he’s making his mark on the field, Simone Biles is making waves in the stands, too.

Even though the Bears lost to the Patriots 19-3, Simone, on November 11, still managed to steal the spotlight. With white skinny jeans, a white Bottega Veneta Cassette bag, and stylish heeled boots, she complemented a custom sweater from Distressed Merch 1of1, which featured Jonathan’s jersey number, the Bears’ logo, and his last name, striking the perfect balance between fashion and team pride.

This isn’t the first time Simone has turned heads with her game-day outfits—last season, when Jonathan was with the Houston Texans, she wore a custom tee by the same brand. Fans couldn’t help but gush over how stylish and supportive she is, and now everyone is looking forward to seeing what the duo will venture into next!

USA Olympic Star Suni Lee Announced as SI Swimsuit’s Newest Athlete for 2025 Magazine

U.S. Olympic gymnast Suni Lee will take part in the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition, the magazine announced on Monday.

“We are thrilled to launch our shoot season for the 2025 issue with an extraordinary lineup of powerful female athletes,” SI Swimsuit editor-in-chief MJ Day said in a statement. “This remarkable group, featuring Olympic medalists, world champions, and record holders, embodies the next generation of all-stars poised to transform the world of sports. They defy stereotypes and champion equality, inspiring young girls to envision themselves as both athletes and leaders. At SI Swimsuit, we’ve always celebrated the future of women, and there’s no better way to honor these remarkable achievements than by featuring them on the pages of our issue.”

Lee, 21, has won two gold medals in her career—the first came at the individual all-around competition at the 2020 Tokyo Games (held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), while the second was in the team competition during this summer’s Paris Games. She also took home a silver (team) and bronze medal (uneven bars) in the 2020 Games and two bronze medals (all-around, uneven bars) in Paris.

She is already one of the most decorated gymnasts in United States history and will join a number of athletes—including sprinter Gabby Thomas, skier Eileen Gu and golfer Nelly Korda—in this year’s Swimsuit edition.

Simone Biles and Husband Jonathan Owens Gifted Personalized Jerseys During Date Night at Chicago Bulls Game

The couple received bright red jerseys featuring their last names in black letters above the number 36 — which is also Owens’ number in the NFL

Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens look closer than ever following star’s bittersweet week

Simone Biles shared a kiss with her husband

Simone Biles is keeping busy now that her Gold Over America tour is over, as she’s prioritizing spending time with her husband Jonathan Owens. The gymnast took a trip over to Chicago especially for an adorable date night.

Jonathan and Simone were spotted courtside as the Chicago Bulls played against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the United Center. The Chicago Bears safety put an arm around his wife as she leaned in close, clearly relishing the time they shared together after weeks of traveling.

She wore classic Chicago Bulls colors: a pair of red hot knee high boots and a black leather bomber jacket, as well as a quilted Chanel handbag for a touch of luxury. Meanwhile, Jonathan opted for an opposite vibe of a cream jacket over a white shirt with neutral-toned pants.

As if courtside tickets weren’t enough of a luxury, the couple were blessed to receive personalized Chicago Bulls jerseys with the number 36 on both; they smiled as they flashed the shirts at the camera, clearly happy.

They then shared an intimate moment as they kissed in front of the camera, showing that they were still going strong despite previous distances between them.

simone biles

It was certainly an emotional week for Simone, who said a tearful goodbye to her teammates as her national tour finished on November 3. She shared a number of selfies from the airport, as she shed some tears while holding a mimosa.

While she has been traveling the country, Jonathan moved from their Texas home to the windy city, as the season started on September 8.

Despite the long distance between them, the couple have supported each other throughout over the past months and made a number of trips across the country to see each other.

Jonathan visited during his Bye Week, with the gymnast sharing a number of PDA-filled photos as they enjoyed some quality time. Prior to that, he surprised her with roses for a spontaneous trip.

Meanwhile, Simone visited him on September 29 when the Chicago Bears played — and beat the Los Angeles Rams.

Jonathan said of her visit: “She has a tour stop here that evening at 7. Literally perfect. So, she can come to the game at 12 and then boom, I’ll get to go watch her at 7. Pretty dope turnaround.”

Serena Williams’ Daughter Olympia Meets Simone Biles in Sweet New Photo, Thanks Her for ‘Absolutely Making Her Month’

Serena Williams’ daughter already has one foot inside the Olympic world!

On Sunday, Oct. 15, the retired tennis pro’s husband and Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian, 41, shared a carousel of photos of the couple’s daughter Olympia, 7, on Instagram as she met Olympic gymnast Simone Biles at the Gold Over America Tour.

Olympia was all smiles in the pics as she sported pink pants and a matching pink sweater as she stood with Biles, who wore a gold leotard and placed an arm around Olympia.

The young gymnastics fan also posed for a photo with Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, with the two holding up peace signs as they smiled for the picture. A repost of Biles’ Instagram Stories was also included, which had a photo of Olympia, Williams and Ohanian alongside Biles, Chiles and others.

“I had to take S & Jr to see @simonebiles’ Gold Over America Tour. Packed house. Awesome night. Don’t miss it if they’re coming to your town. 🥇🥇🥇,” Ohanian wrote in his caption.

“And thank you Simone and @jordanchiles for absolutely making Olympia’s MONTH 🥞 I bought all the merch I could and even tried making this morning’s pancake look like Olympia in one of her new leotards – sorry babygirl, photorealism is hard 😆😆 and the batter was too runny today.”

Serena Williams and Simone Biles

Williams and Ohanian are parents to daughters Olympia and Adira, 14 months.

Speaking to Glamour for a recent article, the mom of two opened up about her decision to have a cesarean section when welcoming daughter Adira. Although she said she wouldn’t miss giving birth naturally, she admitted that a part of her was sad to not go through the experience again.

Of giving birth naturally, Williams said, “Looking back, I’ll never have that moment again. For whatever weird reason, that kind of makes me a little sad, but that’s probably a party of one.”

“This time I went in with a plan. I like to say I put my best effort out there, and this was no different,” she said of welcoming Adira. “I literally thought about it as a Grand Slam: ‘How can I succeed?’ ”

Speaking to PEOPLE in May, Ohanian shared that he’s excited to see his younger daughter start to get her footing, noting it’s “fun because she’s getting more mobile.”

“She’s able to have a lot more fun with her sister in terms of playing. You can already see the interactions between them. It’s a big age gap, and Olympia has a little bit of that maternal spirit. She’s like, ‘This is my baby,’ and it’s great to see them together,” Ohanian shared.

“They play and sort wrestle and all that. We’re very lucky because Adira’s got a great personality and Olympia does too, plus she’s so excited to be a big sis. So seeing the two of them interact with each other has been a special kind of fun. Adira’s getting more mobile and more vocal, and it’s only going to get even more fun.”

He joked, “I guess at some point they’re going to fight over things, but for now, let me live in bliss.”

Shedding ‘Quitter’ Tag, Simone Biles Stands in Support of Those in Distress: ‘Not the Poster Child, but I’ll Support’

Mental health in the gymnastics realm was taboo. That was until Simone Biles decided to break all the stereotypes. Being vocal about keeping one’s mind and body at bay, things took a wild turn when Biles decided to quit the Tokyo Olympics. Having faced difficulties in syncing her body with her mind mid-air, Biles decided to draw a line. With the whole world watching, Biles made an audacious decision to prioritize herself before the games.

This was something new for the gymnastics fraternity. Because in the olden days, women’s gymnasts were perceived as ‘Little Girls in Pretty Boxes.’ While the world called Biles a ‘quitter,’ the US gymnastics queen showed guts to stand up for her. Biles did not hesitate to come out and defend herself, saying that her mind and body were of utmost importance. This idea of putting oneself above the sport was something that nobody was ready for.

And with the passage of time, Biles has become an unexpected advocate for mental health issues. In a recent interview with CNN, Biles mentioned how she supports and values every individual’s battle. Reflecting on the topic, the gymnastics GOAT stated that she did not want to be a ‘poster girl’ for the act. Instead, her victory lies solely in inspiring others to break the shackles and speak for themselves.

Biles said, “Everybody’s mental health journey is unique… I’m not the poster child for it, but I’ll support (anyone’s) mental health journey. Now people come up to me and they’re like, ‘I’ve been in therapy for the first time in my life, and thank you so much,’ There’s power in that. And I just know I’m helping people out there.” The 27-year-old’s brave approach did make a huge difference in the realm of gymnastics. The previously heavily sought after ‘No Pain, No Gain’ motto has been discarded by most since.

Simone Biles

Speaking about the matter, Biles has earlier laid stress on how to deal with the mental struggles. She insisted that people facing problems must not hesitate to reach out for help. The Olympic gold medalist also reminded that human nature will try to suppress the idea of asking for help. She gave her own example after Tokyo, when she was down and out, and even considered retirement.

It was then that Biles took therapy and started to see drastic changes within weeks. Biles has also spoken about using an app called Cerebral. Having benefited significantly from the company, the Olympic champion is now working as the Chief Impact Officer for the brand. Interestingly, it was not only her fans that Simone Biles influenced. She also had her husband, Jonathan Owens, resort to therapy.

Simone Biles helps out Jonathan Owens with therapy

Jonathan Owens was a first-hand witness to Simone Biles’ struggles. Looking at her mentally bruised and battered wife, Owens offered all the help he could have at his disposal. However, the NFL star noticed something—his wife was showing drastic improvements while taking therapy. Now, Owens too, just like the others, was skeptical about therapy initially and thought that it actually did not serve a purpose.

Gradually, the Chicago Bears’ star became inspired and opted for therapy himself. Speaking on the incident on the Netflix documentary ‘Simone Biles Rising’, Owens stated, “She really opened my eyes.” Owens also said how Biles had asked her to opt for a therapist. Despite dismissing her initial advice, Owens did listen to his wife and it made all the difference. Looking back at his experience, Owens said, “It’s a humbling thing because you have to go back and look at yourself in the mirror.”

Thus, after conquering the gymnastics realm, Simone Biles has been actively looking to transform people’s lives too. This way, she truly stands as an exemplary figure who is not only concerned about her own professional field but is eager to make an impact for society’s greater good.

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