As the 2025 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championship unfolds, all eyes are on the rising stars. No, it’s not Olivia Dunne, but LSU’s own Filipino who has captured attention with her outstanding Week One performance as she ended up as the top-performing gymnast all-around. The 19-year-old star left fans and judges in awe as she showcased her elite skills.

With a flawless routine across all four events—vault, bars, beam, and floor—Aleah Finnegan is quickly emerging as one of the most captivating athletes in NCAA gymnastics. From a precise vault to dazzling routines on the floor, beam, and more, she proved her dominance in the sport. Consequently, her all-around score of 39.725 not only reflected her consistent excellence but also set a high bar for the rest of the season.

Olympians Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey, known for their NCAA gymnastics excellence, also delivered remarkable routines in Week One. UCLA, with Olympic Champion Jordan Chiles leading the way, delivered their third-lowest opening score in more than 15 years. Jordan Chiles was a bright spot with 9.90s on both vault and bars. Oregon State’s Jade Carey had a strong performance. She had an all-round score of 39.625. However, while Chiles’s and Carey’s performances were noteworthy, Finnegan’s ability to dominate every apparatus with grace and control made her performance stand out. She marked the highest all-around score by an LSU gymnast on opening night. She scored 9.950 on vault, 9.900 on bars, 9.925 on beam, and 9.950 on floor, winning the titles on all four events and the all-around on the night.

Aleah Finnegan’s extraordinary performance even earned admiration from her head coach, Jay Clark. Reflecting on her standout routines, Clark told LSU Sports, “Aleah had a night. From a performance standpoint, that may be the best four for four I have ever seen her put together. Everything was clean; everything was good. She planted her vault, drilled the bar set, and it was one of the best beam sets you will see anywhere in the country all year long, and crushed it on the floor, too.” His words underscore Finnegan’s excellence, highlighting her ability to deliver flawless performances on a grand stage. Kicking off her senior season in style, Finnegan won SEC Gymnast of the Week with her stellar performance.

Finnegan’s performance in Week One is just a glimpse of her potential as she eyes a return to elite gymnastics. Her relentless pursuit of excellence is only gaining momentum. Fueled by family, her ambition is now set on a higher stage.

Aleah Finnegan’s rise from NCAA star to international gymnastics inspiration

Aleah Finnegan joined the LSU Tigers in 2021, driven by the goal of achieving significant milestones to honor her parents’ wishes. Reflecting on her decision to join LSU, she shared during an interaction with LSU Tiger TV, “He’s [Aleah’s father] like he was always with my biggest fan; you know he’s that person that, like, in the audience, he was there at practices, and he absolutely, like, loved LSU gymnastics, and, like, they, like, treated him like so well; it was really just like the family; that’s one of the reasons why I came here.” Finnegan’s ability to balance collegiate gymnastics and the demanding path to elite competition is a testament to her mental fortitude and athletic prowess.

With her sights set on representing the Philippines at the Olympics, she has made it clear that her NCAA success is just a stepping stone. The 22-year-old gymnast represented the Philippines in the women’s individual all-around of artistic gymnastics of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. “I’ve been wanting to go to the Olympics since I knew what the Olympics were,” Finnegan told Olympics.com. “I was kind of calculating how old I would need to be and what years that would be. I never really thought growing up that it would be 2024, but here I am with this opportunity.” This highlights the motivation that drives her collegiate journey and her connection to LSU gymnastics. Her Olympic aspirations showcase her commitment to both personal and professional growth.

Aleah Finnegan’s journey not only highlights her collegiate triumphs but also seamlessly ties in her aspirations on the global stage. Furthermore, the LSU Star dominated the NCAA scene with her standout Week One performance. Can Aleah Finnegan transform her NCAA success into a legacy as an international gymnastics legend?