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18-year-old Filipino gymnast Levi Ruivivar. Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News

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 Levi Ruivivar 05302024

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1717049008253Levi-Ruivivar-05302024.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="18-year-old Filipino gymnast Levi Ruivivar. Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News"/>18-year-old Filipino gymnast Levi Ruivivar. Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News </div><div> </div>MANILA -- For the first time in history, the Philippine delegation is sending four gymnasts to the Olympics: Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan, Levi Ruivivar, and Emma Malabuyo. The gymnastics team is currently the biggest sporting delegation among the Philippine teams who will be present in Paris 2024.Among these athletes, 18-year-old Levi Ruivivar is the youngest Olympian who will be representing the country this July.Before undergoing some final preparations in Texas, Ruivivar and her father, Hollywood actor Anthony Ruivivar, paid a brief visit to the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) in Manila.During her two-day stay here, she took the opportunity to inspire the younger gymnasts by talking to them, giving them advice, and donating her old leotards to the little girls.When asked about her reasons for doing so, she said, “I just want to give as much as I can to them because they are the future of gymnastics and I came here because I want to inspire them and help them. Just to give back to the younger generations is amazing and… it’s just an honor to help them and be a part of their journey, give them any inspiration and just talk to them. There’s so much potential and so much talent in the Filipino community and I’m sure these girls are gonna do amazing. It’s amazing to be here and watch them.”<span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Ruivivar received a warm welcome from the gymnastics trainees, GAP president Cynthia Carrion, and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino who lauded Ruivivar not only for her historic achievement but also for her amazing display of heart. “It’s her Filipino blood, to give back to her roots,” said Tolentino.Although having grown up in the USA, Ruivivar said that choosing to carry the Philippine flag in the biggest sporting competition in the world was an easy decision.“It honestly wasn’t difficult because I’ve always wanted to compete for the Philippines since I was little and I just had no way to connect with the community. So once I was able to make that connection, it was just a no-brainer. I am just honored to compete for the Philippines and it’s been a dream I wanted to pursue for so long, so finally achieving that is amazing,” she said.Representing the Philippines was a dream she shared with her late grandfather, singer Tony Ruivivar, who was born and raised in the Philippines.This is her and her father’s first time visiting the country. Stepping on Philippine soil was also a way for them to reconnect with Tony, who was one of Levi’s biggest fans.Anthony got emotional as he shared, “I almost tear up every time I think about it. It means a lot coming back home. I grew up always hearing about the Philippines. My dad wanted to bring us, but unfortunately, he got sick and passed away. That is tough, but he’s looking down on her and we’re so honored and happy that she can come back to the Philippines in this light and bring honor to the Philippines. I couldn’t be more proud… It was his dream for her. He was her biggest fan in gymnastics, was always telling everybody what she was doing. He’s got pictures all over the wall and the one thing I wish is that he was here to see this, but he is.”Also there to greet Levi during her visit to the national training base was Filipino men’s artistic gymnastics star Carlos Yulo.Levi identifies him as one of the athletes she truly looks up to and is inspired by.“He’s so poised and the way he carries himself in competition and practices for competition is something that I can look up to. And he’s really humble, just hardworking, so I have so much respect for that and I try to take some of that with me in my gymnastics as well,” said Ruivivar.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/4/22/carlos-yulo-back-home-after-fig-world-cup-victory-2110">READ: Carlos Yulo back home after FIG World Cup victory</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/5/19/carlos-yulo-adds-2-more-golds-to-asian-championships-haul-2114">READ: Carlos Yulo adds 2 more golds to Asian Championships haul</a></div>Yulo is also deep in preparation for the upcoming Olympics, fresh from winning 4 gold medals in the 2024 Asian Championships in Uzbekistan.When asked about his training leading up to Paris, he replied, “Parehas pa din kung paano ako nag-prepare para sa Asian Championships. Magfo-focus ako sa 3 kong mabibigat na apparatus which is floor, vault, parallel bars, then kaunting linis sa other 3. Mas gusto kong mas maging pulido yung landings ko especially sa floor and vault and syempre dagdag execution sa parallel bars.”With the support of GAP president Carrion, the morale of our Filipino Olympic gymnasts entering the Olympics is higher than ever. Carrion has full faith in the gymnasts, who have fully pledged their allegiance to the Philippine flag.“For the girls, it’s not easy to get them because they’re from the American team. So they have to be released by the American team and once we get them, they cannot go back to the American team. She has to be Philippine team all the way. I had to write to the American president of the Federation to release her, release Aleah, and release Emma,” Carrion said.The federation and its gymnasts are eyeing to win multiple medals for the country.Ruivivar is fired up for Paris, saying, “I’m very excited to give my best performance possible. Making the Olympics was always my goal so I’m just really, really excited to go out there and do my best. Go big and make the finals and hopefully win medals for the Philippines.”

“It honestly wasn’t difficult because I’ve always wanted to compete for the Philippines since I was little and I just had no way to connect with the community. So once I was able to make that connection, it was just a no-brainer. I am just honored to compete for the Philippines and it’s been a dream I wanted to pursue for so long, so finally achieving that is amazing.”

“It honestly wasn’t difficult because I’ve always wanted to compete for the Philippines since I was little and I just had no way to connect with the community. So once I was able to make that connection, it was just a no-brainer. I am just honored to compete for the Philippines and it’s been a dream I wanted to pursue for so long, so finally achieving that is amazing.”

Levi Ruivivar in Manila to give back to younger Pinay gymnasts before Paris Olympics

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Levi Ruivivar in Manila to give back to younger Pinay gymnasts before Paris Olympics

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 30, 2024 02:04 PM PHT

Read More:

abssports

gymnastics

2024 Olympics

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Paris Olympics

Levi Ruivivar

Carlos Yulo

Caloy Yulo

Gymnastics Association of the Philippines

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