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Emma Malabuyo looks to bring PH pride to Olympic stage

Fil-Am gymnast Emma Malabuyo qualified to represent the country in the Paris Olympics.

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Steve Angeles

TFC News

<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ePxMWwTmG9g?&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>As the 2024 Olympics draw near, Team Philippines has just added more Pinay power.University of California Los Angeles junior Emma Malabuyo recently earned an Olympic berth after a 3rd place finish at the Asian Championships in Uzbekistan.She is now the third Filipino-American woman to qualify to represent the Philippines in the Olympic Games in Paris.  The Philippines has not been able send female gymnasts since the 1964 games.But thanks to national champion Aleah Finnegan of Louisiana State University, Stanford-commit Levi Jung Ruivivar and now Malabuyo, the Filipinas’ Olympic drought is over.Riding high from their win, Malabuyo and UCLA head coach Janelle McDonald held a media roundtable as they returned to Los Angeles.&quot;Being able to represent the Philippines and having two other women along side with me, it is such a big accomplishment,&quot; said Malabuyo of breaking the cycle. &quot;We just want to bring so much pride and joy to everyone in the Philippines.&quot;Malabuyo is a lifelong gymnast who had been with Team USA as an alternate in the COVID-19 affected 2020 games in Tokyo.She admitted that this time, it’s different to be representing the Philippines.&quot;In 2020, I felt just a little bit more isolated just because I was training alone,&quot; she said. &quot;Now that I’m with the Philippines, I’m able to express myself and enjoy my gymnastics.&quot;The Fil-Am gymnast added: Being able to be myself out there on the floor and having that support brings that light outside of me. It feels like a big family.&quot;UCLA has produced a number of high profile Filipina gymnasts including 1984 Olympian Gigi Zosa who represented Canada. Fil-Am Kyla Ross, a gold medalist in the 2012 games, also went on to compete for UCLA and high-profile won several national championships.Malabuyo’s Filipina-Canadian teammate Brooklyn Moors, meanwhile, represented Canada in the 2020 Olympics. Malabuyo, whose grandparents migrated from Manila to the San Francisco Bay Area, is the first Bruin Gymnast to represent the Philippines. She is also Coach Janelle McDonald’s first Olympian. McDonald has been traveling with Malabuyo and will continue be with her throughout her Olympic journey, and even possibly to the Philippines.&quot;Going on this trip with Emma to the Asian championships, my biggest takeaway is what a family the team is and not just the athletes, but the coaches and delegation as a whole,&quot; said McDonald.Since her return to Los Angeles, the 21-year-old has been back in the gym, ready to represent the Philippines and make history with her teammates when the games begin in July.

Fil-Am gymnast Emma Malabuyo qualified to represent the country in the Paris Olympics.

Fil-Am gymnast Emma Malabuyo looks to bring PH pride to Olympic stage

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Fil-Am gymnast Emma Malabuyo looks to bring PH pride to Olympic stage

Steve Angeles,

TFC News

Published June 08, 2024 11:41 PM PHT

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Olympics

Gymnastics

Filipino American

TFC News

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