Levi Jung-Ruivivar ‘hurt’ after missing out on Team PH homecoming

MANILA, Philippines—Days following her absence from the Team Philippines’ homecoming events in Manila, Filipino gymnast Levi Jung-Ruivivar explained why she wasn’t in attendance during the delegation’s return to home soil after the Paris Olympics.

In an Instagram post on Monday, Jung-Ruivivar said miscommunication led to her absence from the Team Philippine festivities, including the Heroes Parade in Manila, last week that featured most of the country’s athletes who participated in the Paris Games.

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“On August 8th, I received a message stating that it [parade] was only for medalists, Carlos and the two bronze medalists, the boxers. I responded inquiring if that was in fact correct because I had heard all Olympians were invited. I never received a response or any further information. And I still haven’t had any communication about it,” wrote Jung-Ruivivar.

READ: Filipinos show gratitude to Team Philippines in Heroes’ parade

“The following week, I was surprised when I saw all Filipino Olympians, except for me, Aleah, and Emma in Manila participating in a meeting with President BongBong Marcos and participating in a parade. I was really hurt considering this was a once in a lifetime opportunity I missed out on.”

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Joining Jung-Ruivivar in the list of people absent from the arrival events were fellow gymnasts Alleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo and golfers Bianca Pagdangan and Dottie Ardina.

EJ Obiena, Vanessa Sarno, and Eumir Marcial missed the parade but were part of the welcome at Malacañang.

READ: Carrion overcome by emotion over crowd reception to Carlos Yulo

After the parade, Gymnastics Association of the Philippines President Cynthia Carrion said the three women’s gymnasts couldn’t make it to the homecoming events.

“They’re in the US but they’re coming by the end of August. Yes, [they knew] but they couldn’t make it,” Carrion said.

The Philippine Olympic Committee also said that all athletes were invited through their NSAs.

READ: POC says all athletes invited after PH gymnasts miss Heroes parade

Finnegan and Malabuyo, though, arrived in the country just a few days after the Philippine athletes arrived home from France.

Jung-Ruivivar, meanwhile,  clarified that she wasn’t in a rush return to the United States after the Paris Olympics as her school obligations at Stanford start in September.

“I wanted to be part of the celebration with my fellow Olympians and to share in the excitement of the success of this Olympics with my country, the Philippines. I truly wish I could have gone considering I have sacrificed endlessly to perform for my country and to make everyone proud,” Jung-Ruivivar said.

“I have no current obligations in the States, before I head to Stanford early September, there was nothing prohibiting me from attending this extraordinary event.”

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