Road to Paris: Leanne Wong Draws Insight From Tokyo Olympics for Upcoming Season

In the world of gymnastics, American gymnast Leanne Wong’s name shines brightly. Being the World all-around silver medalist in 2021, Wong showcased her gymnastic prowess with absolute finesse. Recently, she put up a fabulous display in the NCAA arena, as her team Florida Gators defeated the No. 2 LSU. Now, “the boss of bows” has her eyes set on Paris after she helped the US grab the team title in the World Artistic Gymnastic Championship 2023.

With that in mind, Leanne Wong recently sat down on the official podcast of the Florida Gators. There she reflected on how she looked at her Olympic dream and how her experience during the Tokyo Olympics was going to help her this time.

Leanne Wong hails her Olympic experience

Leanne Wong, in an interview with Sean Kelly in Gator Tales, said that the Tokyo Olympic experience will make her Paris Olympic journey smoother. At the 2020 US Olympic Trials, Wong finished eighth in the all-around and second in floor exercise. Riding on this, she was selected as an alternate for the US Olympic team. Although she did not set foot on the Olympic mats, the very experience of being part of an Olympic team is invaluable, feels Wong.

Leanne Wong said, “I’ve heard stories from like other athletes and just what it’s like, but it’s not the same until you go there and experience it yourself”. Her further statement, “thankful for that I have that experience” reflects her conviction that her previous experience in Tokyo would serve as a solid foundation for success in Paris. When Sean Kelly asked her how she felt about Paris, she stated with a smile and excitement, “Paris would be a dream come true”. And Wong has every reason to dream of that big ticket, given her performance in recent times.

Taking bold steps on the road to Paris

Leanne Wong has truly been on fire last year. At the 2023 U.S. Classic, she finished in second place in the all-around behind Simone Biles. Then at the 2023 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships in San Jose, California, Wong came in third in the women’s all-around category with a total score of 111.100. She continued her dominance on the international stage as well.

Read More: “The Boss of Bows” Gymnast Leanne Wong Radiates in Team USA’s’ Road to Paris 2024

At the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, the USA secured the top position with a 167.729 all-around score and Wong was a member of that team. While she has yet to hit the international mats in 2024, she has already taken the collegiate gymnastics realm to storm this year.

In the Gators’ recent NCAA victory over LSU, Wong notched an all-around score of 39.875, the highest in the nation. This earned her the 2024 SEC Gymnast of the Week ending on Feb. 27. This was made sweeter as shortly after it, she became the 15th NCAA gymnast to earn a GYM SLAM. With all the good work, Leanne Wong would surely look forward to making her name count for the Olympic battle.