Team Philippines gymnastics bets Emma Malabuyo, Aleah Finnegan and Levi Jung-Ruivivar. They are set to compete in the Paris Olympics 2024 women’s gymnastics event. –Levi Jung-Ruivivar Instagram
MANILA, Philippines— When Team Philippines gymnasts Levi Jung-Ruivivar, Aleah Finnegan, and Emma Malabuyo made the decision to represent the country, almost all of them had the exact reason in mind: their Filipino heritage.
In an episode of the “Blind Landing” podcast, the Filipino-American female bets for gymnastics opened up about their decision to represent the Philippines en route to the Paris Olympics 2024, where they will be bringing their wealth of experience to the country’s medal campaign.
“My Lolo (grandfather) is Filipino. He was born and raised in the Philippines before he moved to Hawaii and he was in a band with seven other Filipino guys – they were called ‘The Society of Seven’. It’s just like part of the culture,” said Jung-Ruivivar.
READ: Team Philippines in Paris Olympics 2024: Meet the athletes
“I grew up around that. My Lolo really connected me to the Philippines and that’s part of my life growing up.”
Like Jung-Ruivivar, Louisiana State University standout Finnegan, who was part of the United States women’s national gymnastics team from 2019 to 2021, deciding to represent the Philippines was almost an easy one.
“My mom was born and raised in the Philippines and then she moved over to the States when she was about 19 for university to study. So I’ve been very connected with the Filipino culture with holidays and foods and going to school bringing my little Filipino lunch,” said Finnegan.
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So what did she do when she encountered another Filipina in Emma Malabuyo? Simple. She asked if she wanted to compete with her heart—and flag—on her sleeve.
“I knew Emma was Filipino just from like growing up and I was slowly trying to convince her to go compete with me, like when we’d see each other in passing at collegiate meets,” said Finnegan.
In 2020, Malabuyo, a UCLA elite gymnast, was named as one of Team USA’s alternates for the Tokyo Olympics.
Malabuyo then switched federations to represent the Philippines and she plans to do more than just donning the PH flag.
“That’s part of the reason why I’m going in August to the Philippines is because I’m actually going to choreograph floor routines and teach dance there, which I’m so excited to do,” said Malabuyo.
Like Malabuyo, Finnegan is also thinking about representing the Philippines more in the future with her family heritage in mind.
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While nothing is absolute after her Paris Olympics debut, Finnegan said she “not shutting the door down on anything.”
“I definitely never want to shut the door on anything. So I don’t want to speak too far ahead, but I’m never just going to close an opportunity that’s just kind of sitting right in front of us,” Finnegan said.
Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Paris Olympics 2024.
