Leanne Wong took a huge risk by deciding to compete in collegiate gymnastics this season. Without any confirmation of her Olympic berth, Wong could have suffered an injury, deterring her growth as an athlete. But just like the age-old saying, Wong’s fortune favored her because of her bravery. Wong got a pleasant surprise when she was named as an alternate gymnast to accompany Simone Biles and Co. 

Well, for the uninitiated, an alternate typically means Wong will only get a chance to feature in an event if any of the first-team gymnasts gets injured. This stipulation has made several fans question her authenticity as an Olympian. Unfazed by the naysayers, Wong is looking all excited to experience Paris and also wants to spread a little joy with her ‘Bowtique’. Juggling vocation with passion is no small feat for any professional but man does she nail it. What is this mystique with the Bowtique, you ask? Look no further as we have you covered.

Leanne Wong’s bows once alleviated her parents from the nadir

Leanne Wong is just 20. And at this tender age, Wong is now an Olympian, as well as a reputed businesswoman. Thus, it is quite natural for the teenage gymnast to do a bit of promotion for her business when she is not balancing herself on the beam or swinging on the bars. Wong always had an inclination towards the small little details, which made her wear matching bows with her outfits. This norm of Wong became immensely popular back in the 2018 US Championships when she was just 15 years old. 

The sudden buzz around her matching bows and leotards sparked the idea of converting the same into a business. And cut to December 2021, Leanne Wong launched an exclusive collection of her ‘Bowtique’. She herself says this entrepreneurial spin kept her family afloat for a brief while. It soon garnered significant traction from the consumers and Wong has sold more than 10000 bows to date. Thus, it is no wonder when Wong says, “I’d love to just explore Paris and hopefully give away some of my bows.”

Is this a new age community service she’s dolling out? What’s in it for her? The ability to spread laughs and joy. What’s more, Wong’s business also aided in her family’s finances when the chips were down for her father. This news was posted on X by GymCastic as it read, “Leanne Wong said her bow business helped her family for a short time when her father was out of work.” She unintentionally came in clutch for her family, and we doff our hat to her ingenuity and good graces.

What started as an elective fashion and interior design class in childhood has now turned into a full-fledged brand. Apart from her bows, Wong now designs exclusive leotards and T-shirts as well. However, for the time being, it will be on Wong’s family and her mom, who handcrafts the bow, to take care of ‘Bowtique’. Leanne Wong, meanwhile, will be keeping herself on her toes to maximize her impact at the first chance she gets. 

Wong is ready for the battle

Wong had a chance to stamp the ‘Olympian’ tag beside her name back in Tokyo. Named as an alternate, a deadly COVID-19 virus halted her in her tracks to glory. Sitting ducks, Wong must have been wondering what the scenario would have been if she traveled to Tokyo after watching Simone Biles pull out. Thus, Wong knows that she has to be ready. And her coach is making sure that there is no change in the training schedule. Speaking about the same, Wong’s assistant coach, Owen Field, emphasized, “We’re going to treat every day of training like she would be competing, just so that she is completely prepared, should she be needed.”

Wong, too, seems wary of the same and knows the importance of being prepared. She recalled an incident from the 2023 Worlds when Joscelyn Roberson got ruled out due to injury. Stepping in for Roberson, Wong had to hurriedly put on her outfit as she did not expect the call-up. But coming to Paris, her mentality has changed. She said, “Now I know mentally, I can do it.” Wong also drew inspiration from none other than Biles, who taught the young gymnast the importance of being an alternate. Thus, with a mature outlook and hunger to pounce on anything that comes her way, Leanne Wong is getting ready to experience her flight of dreams and we might just be witness to history’s greatest moments unfold before our very eyes.