The quest to reach the summit is often laid with thorns. Athletes may frequently ignore their health, blinded by rigorous training and schedule. This may lead to serious setbacks- health-wise and also career-wise.  Take Suni Lee and Kathy Johnson for example. While Kathy Johnson struggled significantly to keep her eating disorder at bay, Lee was shocked to find out about her complex kidney ailment. As both tried to cope with such setbacks, their careers had to pay the price. Unfortunately, another budding gymnast has found herself in a very similar situation. 

Levi Jung-Ruivivar is an exceptional talent. Donning the jersey of the Stanford Cardinal, the Olympian is one of the shining stars of NCAA gymnastics. With the season in full swing, many eyes hope to watch her perform. Sadly, much to the dismay of the fans, she had a somber announcement to make. Owing to her eating disorder, Levi Jung-Ruivivar has decided to take a step back from her NCAA tryst. 

The 18-year-old gymnast informed the world of her decision to withdraw from the ongoing NCAA season through a sentimental Instagram post. “I have decided to redshirt this season and take a brief leave of absence from Stanford (just the winter quarter) to heal from an eating disorder I have been struggling with,” She further went on to explain that the disorder took a significant toll not only on her physical health but also on her mental well being. 

Jung-Ruivivar also hopes to be a source of expression and support for all those who might find themselves struggling under similar conditions. The 18-year-old wrote, “…I want to be a voice for anyone who may be struggling with an eating disorder, you are not alone.” The gymnast also pointed out that the ones who haven’t experienced an eating disorder might not know how impactful it can be. While she stated that the severity of the condition differs from person to person, the feeling of negativity and its massive mental toll are pervasive. 

Surely, such an announcement took the fans by surprise. Thankfully, they were supportive enough to back the gymnast on her rehabilitation journey. Taking to the comments section, the online community poured Levi Jung-Ruivivar with love and support. 

Fans back Levi Jung-Ruivivar in her recovery journey 

 Fans flocked to the comments section to extend their support to Levi. Levi Jung-Ruivivar at just 18 years of age qualified to represent her nation on the international stage. Despite adhering to a gymnast’s training regime, she fell victim to an eating disorder. However, she was courageous enough to accept it, she did not care about the stigma that surrounds mental health issues. Rather, as a teenage gymnast she took a bold step and prioritized her health over her rising career. Highlighting the same, a Reddit user commented, “Truly. I’m astonished by her openness about this at only 18. Hoping for nothing but healing for her mind and body.”

Levi Jung-Ruivivar is a champion by all standards. At just 17, she represented her country in Paris. However, Ruivivar unexpectedly suffered from a severe anaphylactic reaction inside the Olympic Village. It took a toll on her health. In all probability, it happened from tree nuts. But she competed nonetheless. That’s Levi Jung-Ruivivar for you! We are sure the 18-year-old will recover and get back to the mat in her full glory very soon! Till then, she has the love of her friends and well-wishers to fall back on.

Voicing support for her bold decision one commentator wrote, “So so much respect for this.”. The user also added how they have fought against this health disorder, “I’ve battled an ED for 20+ years and it is an incredibly challenging thing to recover from (but definitely possible!). I’m so glad she is choosing to heal before doing gymnastics again.”

Moreover, a mental health break is sometimes necessary to come back stronger! It was 2021, and the Gymnastics GOAT, Simone Biles showed the world how taking care of one’s mental and physical health shall eventually bring glorious results. We remember Biles’ jaw-dropping performance at the Paris Olympics that earned her 3 gold medals and another silver. Just like Simone Biles emerged stronger than “twisties” Jung-Ruivivar will surely win the battle against her eating disorder. The fans have reminded Levi Jung-Ruivivar that they are by her side as she navigates this difficult situation.

She continues to receive unparalleled love. Yet another fan added, “I’m super impressed by her courage to share this so widely at such a young age. looking forward to see who she matures into, gymnast or not”. Echoing the same emotion another netizen stated, “This is an incredibly brave, healthy, and mature decision and I admire her for it.”

The toll that such a health woe might take on a young athlete is beyond imagination, but Jung-Ruivivar has decided to power through the same. Admitting the same one Reddit user added, “wow you never really know what someone is going through! I admire her courage in being so open about this and I’m absolutely sure it will help others.” The fan further added, “I wish her the best and also commend her coaches for supporting this decision (and not having her compete yet).I love her gymnastics and look forward to seeing her back when she’s ready!”. After all, the fans do not mind waiting. The 18-year-old’s health is more important than anything else at this juncture.

Levi Jung-Ruivivar is a powerhouse. The young star has not only competed in the Olympics, but also represented her nation in World Championships where she finished seventh as a team and sixth in all-around. We are in awe of her perseverance and dedication! We wish her the very best in her recovery journey. We are so excited to see how things pan out for the 18-year-old in the upcoming days.