The Olympics can be a bittersweet experience. And it was the same for this 21-year-old gymnast. Due to her dazzling performance in collegiate gymnastics with the Florida Gators, she found herself selected as an Olympic alternate for Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. But despite landing in Japan’s capital, she could hardly be there because of the COVID scare. But after three years, things did not still go her way.

Leanne Wong earned her place as an alternate after a grueling performance at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Minneapolis. With Simone Biles securing automatic qualification and Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera clinching the remaining berths, Wong and Texarkana’s Joscelyn Roberson were named traveling alternates. And for Wong, it was a familiar scenario. It was a role that she accepted with pride. But it was not without lingering disappointment. The reason? This was the second time the gymnast missed her chance to be a regular.

Her journey to the Games wasn’t without emotional weight. During the Olympic Trials, Wong witnessed two of her University of Florida teammates, freshman Skye Blakely and sophomore Kayla DiCello, suffer devastating Achilles injuries. Their misfortune underscored the fragility of the sport. And more so, it reinforced Wong’s resolve to remain prepared for a possible call-up. However, months after the Paris Olympics, Wong walked down memory lane and shared how she dealt with an unfamiliar mindset being thrown into a familiar situation yet again.

Sharing her thoughts with The Independent Florida Alligator on January 14, 2025, Leanne admitted, “It was kind of disappointing to be an alternate for a second time.” Wong further shared, “But I was like, ‘Well, I’m on this team for a reason, and I have my role as an alternate, and I’ll get to go to Paris and train.’” Although she had to deal with the disappointment regarding not getting the chance to compete in Paris, Wong’s time as an alternate offered a more fulfilling experience than her stint in Tokyo three years earlier. In Japan, pandemic restrictions kept her in quarantine after a teammate tested positive for COVID-19. In Paris, she found solace in embracing the Olympic spirit.

After getting selected for the Paris Olympics as an alternate, Wong threw back to her Tokyo days and shared, “Last time I really had only three days out there (in Tokyo) and was left in my hotel room for the rest of the time.” And this time, after her stint at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wong reflected, “I just remember looking at the Eiffel Tower. I think I went to go see it four times with the Olympic rings. It was just really special. I just really took a moment to be present.”

While the disappointment of not competing lingers, Leanne Wong views her role with gratitude. Her commitment to the team and her readiness to step in at any moment highlight her resilience. As she navigates her senior season at Florida, she continues to channel her energy into NCAA gymnastics. She knows that every moment on the mat is an opportunity to shine. Back when she was preparing for Paris and the US Olympic Trials, the 20-year-old ‘Boss of Bows’ narrated how she managed to balance both her elite and NCAA gymnastics career.

Leanne Wong on mastering the art of ‘balance’ as her NCAA Glory met her elite ambition

Leanne Wong has been a standout gymnast for the Florida Gators since 2022. And while being a 2024 Paris Olympics hopeful, she had to master the art of juggling two demanding worlds. They were the NCAA gymnastics and elite-level competition. That’s not all. She is also an entrepreneur alongside being a gymnast. It’s her ‘Bowtique’ that builds her identity alongside being an athlete. The 4x All-American shed light on how she chose to balance the starkly different demands of collegiate gymnastics and the global stage, revealing a unique perspective on her dual career.

Sitting for a conversation in The Gator podcast that premiered on YouTube on February 29, 2024, Leanne admitted, “College gymnastics and elite gymnastics are pretty different. But I am fortunate to be able to do both.” While NCAA gymnastics demands consistency with simpler routines, the pursuit of a perfect 10 remains its hallmark.

She continued, “You’re competing every Friday night, and the routine is a lot simpler because in college, you’re striving for that perfect 10.” On the flip side, the stakes in elite gymnastics are higher, requiring athletes to push boundaries with difficult routines. “In elite gymnastics, you don’t compete as often. And you’re trying to pack your routines with as much difficulty as you can and aim for perfection,” Wong added.

Despite the rigorous schedules and high expectations that Wong had to deal with, she took the chance to make the best out of all the opportunities she got. The young phenom did not forget to credit her success to her mentors. “I’m really thankful to the Gator coaches who have been very helpful with me in balancing both,” she said. This blend of guidance made Wong a top contender, who seamlessly bridged her collegiate triumphs with her Olympic aspirations.