Levi Ruivivar.
Well done for Pinay gymnasts
Photos courtesy of FIG
PARIS— Although they fell short of advancing to the next round, the Philippines’ Levi Ruivivar, Emma Malabuyo and Aleah Finnegan gave good account of themselves in their Paris Olympics gymnastics debut here Sunday.
Leaving everything on the mats of the Bercy Arena, Ruivivar and Malabuyo both totaled 51.099 points in the all-around, while Finnegan tallied 50.498 as they missed the cutoff for the event finals.
Only the top 24 in the all-around and top eight in each apparatus – with a maximum of two gymnasts per country – advanced to the medal round.
The youngest member of Team Philippines at 18 years old, Ruivivar showed out with grace.
Battling back from an anaphylactic shock caused by her allergies just days before the competition, the incoming Stanford freshman posted 13.600 in vault, 13.200 in uneven bars, 12.433 in floor exercise, and 11.866 in balance beam.
UCLA standout Malabuyo netted 13.266 points in vault, 13.100 in floor exercise, 12.500 in uneven bars, and 12.233 in balance beam, while LSU stalwart Finnegan averaged 13.387 in vault and scored 12.733 in floor exercise, 12.566 in uneven bars, and 11.466 in balance beam.
“Representing the Philippines on the Olympic Stage is still an amazing feat. Thank you, Levi, Emma, and Aleah for raising our flag and giving a good fight,” the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines wore on its official Facebook account yesterday.
“The Philippines supports you on the next part of your journey and we look forward to seeing the trio perform again in your next competition. Maraming salamat sa paglaan ng inyong puso para sa Pilipinas.”
Ruivivar, Malabuyo and Finnegan have already made history after ending a 60-year drought for the participation of Philippine women gymnasts in the Olympics.
Evelyn Magluyan and Maria-Luisa Floro were the most recent Filipina gymnasts who saw action in the Summer Games in Tokyo 1964 prior to the trio.
Among those who stood out were Algerian teenager Kaylia Nemour, the 17-year-old French-born athlete who outshone gymnastics superstar Simone Biles on the uneven bars Sunday to qualify for the apparatus and the women’s all-around finals, as well as defending champion Sunisa Lee.
The Philippines still has gymnastics golden boy Caloy Yulo, as he faces the challenge of securing medals in the Finals of the men’s individual all-round tomorrow at 11:30 p.m., floor exercise on Saturday and vault on Sunday.
Meanwhile, fencer Sam Catantan expressed honor and gratitude after competing at the Games.
“I”m very blessed po that I was able to give my best po all throughout the competition but unfortunately talagang kinapos eh, but I know for a fact po na coming here, I wasn’t as ready po as my other opponents kasi kakagaling ko lang po ng injury and nag-start po ako ng fencing by February,” Catantan said.
“But I was really happy po the way I fenced today. Hopefully po sa susunod na tournaments po I will able to perform better,” the former University of the East high school star added.
During their duel with Errigo, Catantan was hesitant to attack because of her injury, saying: “I was waiting for my opponent to finish her attack para makatusok po ako without pushing my back leg too much.
“But I’m very happy po na dikit po yung laban. But unfortunately, of course, sayang po talaga.”
Lee Keifer walked away with a second straight gold.
Fellow American Lauren Scruggs secured the silver.
