Aleah Finnegan is one of the athletes competing for Team Philippines in the Paris Olympics 2024.–ALEAH FINNEGAN INSTAGRAM
MANILA, Philippines—One decision can change everything. That’s a sentence that perfectly resonates with one of Team Philippines’ gymnasts, Aleah Finnegan.
During the most recent episode of the “Blind Landing” podcast, Finnegan admitted that she didn’t initially envision herself competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
While she was at Louisiana State University, Finnegan thought collegiate gymnastics would be her only thing, until she got into a deep discussion with her Filipino mother.
“Once I went to LSU, I was done with all of that,” admitted Finnegan.
READ: Paris Olympics: PH gymnasts compete with their Filipino families in mind
“I think the first time it popped up in a conversation, I was really hesitant, even then to go back to the whole scene. Talking with my mom and thinking about how much it would mean to represent her and allowing me to do gymnastics, I thought, ‘what a great opportunity.’”
“What other chance do you get to represent your family and culture?”
Prior to the Paris Olympics 2024, Finnegan has done the most with her decision to represent the country.
Aleah Finnegan during the women’s balance beam competition in the 31st SEA Games.
The 21-year-old prodigy impressed with her first showing for the Philippines in the 2022 Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, by bagging two golds and two silvers in gymnastics.
Well, a Finnegan winning in the SEA Games isn’t a new scene in Aleah’s household.
With her sister Hannah competing for the Philippines 13 years ago, the doors completely opened for another Finnegan to compete for the country on a global scale.
Aleah took that opportunity and ran with it all the way to Paris.
READ: Team Philippines in Paris Olympics 2024: Meet the athletes
“I have three older sisters, growing up we all did gymnastics. My oldest sister Hannah actually competed for the Philippines at the SEA Games back in 2011,” bared the LSU standout.
“They kind of knew we were this family of Fil-Am gymnasts and they spoke to her about possibly competing, they reached out to me and my mother first and I ultimately took the leap of faith.”
In Finnegan’s own words, “one meet turned to another,” and things just got rosy for her when she’s representing the country.
While keeping the country in mind, Finnegan also showed up in the US NCAA by winning the 2024 title in team and floor exercises.
But it was last year when Finnegan’s representation of the Philippines reached a fever pitch.
In the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championship, Finnegan secured a quota spot that ultimately earned her a ticket to the Paris Olympics.
Now, all her decisions will culminate in the French capital.
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Starting July 28 at Bercy Arena in France, Finnegan alongside her gymnastic teammates Levi Jung-Ruivivar, Emma Malabuyo and Carlos Yulo will be fighting for a chance to bring home a medal haul back to the Philippines.
Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Paris Olympics 2024.
