Aleah Finnegan, of Philippines, competes on the uneven bars during a women’s artistic gymnastics qualification round at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
MANILA, Philippines–Aleah Finnegan hasn’t committed to trying her luck anew in the next Olympics in Los Angeles 2028, but she’s all in for the growth of gymnastics locally.
Finnegan and fellow Paris Olympian Emma Malabuyo were in town for the Yes Girl training clinic at the MVPSF Gymnastics Center in Intramuros, Manila on Sunday where over 80 young aspirants showed up in the event organized by the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines.
“I don’t have too many plans. I’m heading back to school in two weeks and I’ll graduate in May. I’m just taking it one step at a time after graduation,” said the 21-year-old Finnegan in response to a query about LA 2028.
READ: With Paris Olympics stint, Aleah Finnegan gets dream come true
The Southeast Asian Games double-gold medalist might have finished 47th at the end of the women’s artistic gymnastics meet in Paris, but working her way up for Los Angeles is definitely attainable.
“It’s not a yes, but it’s not a no, so we’ll just kind of see where the wind takes me,” said Finnegan, a business marketing major from Louisiana State University.
Prior to her Paris stint, the prized Filipino-American helped the LSU women’s gymnastics team capture the US NCAA championships early this year.
Finnegan was the first Filipina to reach the Olympics since 1964 and wrote more history with Malabuyo and another Fil-foreign gymnast Levi Ruivivar in Paris despite missing the medal competition.
The trio was unable to attend the heroes’ parade last week and Finnegan would rather not dwell on it.
“I’ve been very blessed and I’m really thankful to GAP for teaching these kids. The reason we came here to the Philippines was for this clinic,” said Finnegan, a former member of the United States women’s gymnastics squad which topped the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.
Gymnastics in the Philippines became quite a sensation immediately after Carlos Yulo bagged two Olympic golds in the men’s floor exercise and vault in artistic gymnastics, giving the country its best overall performance yet in the Games.
“We just have to keep on doing this (clinics) and soon we’re gonna expand. That’s how we can build an army (of gymnasts),” said Finnegan, a two-time bronze medalist in the vault and balance beam of the 2023 Asian championships in Singapore.
Apart from qualifying for LA 2028, Finnegan could include the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, 2026 Asian Games in Japan and the annual Asian championships in her itinerary once she decides to go all in for another Olympics.