Finnegan is first Filipina gymnast since Evelyn Magluyan and Maria Luisa Floro in 1964 to qualify to the Olympics
IN such short time, Aleah Finnegan has already collected multiple accomplishments for the Philippines in gymnastics. That includes clinching a spot in the Paris Olympics in only her second year representing the country.
Born to a Filipina mother in St. Louis, Missouri, Finnegan looked destined early on to become an athlete, with two of her sisters also gymnasts. She actually started her seniors career with the US, where she was part of the team that captured the gold in the Pan-American Games in 2019.
But in March 2022, Finnegan decided to change nationality and compete for the Philippines and immediately shone bright. She took home two gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) when she ruled the team and vault, and captured two silvers in the all-around and balance beam.
U-turn from retirement
It was an amazing turn of events for Finnegan, who already chose to retire from the elite level after the 2021 US Gymnastics Championships.
But a call from the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines opened new doors for her, as she accepted an offer to compete for her mother’s land.
Aside from the SEA Games, Finnegan also copped two bronze medals in the 2023 Asian Championships in the vault and balance beam.
She then sealed her Olympic spot in the 2023 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium where a 32nd-place finish in the women’s all-around earned her a ticket to Paris to become the first Filipina gymnast since Evelyn Magluyan and Maria Luisa Floro in 1964 to qualify to the world’s biggest sporting conclave.
“What a dream come true,” the 21-year-old Finnegan wrote on her Instagram account shortly after booking a place in the Olympics.
Competing for the LSU Tigers, Finnegan recently won a gold in the floor exercise and team event in the 2024 US NCAA Championships.
With her feats, Finnegan will continue to make both her mother and motherland proud in the years to come.