US Gymnast Leanne Wong Recalls Horrors of “Being Stuck” at Tokyo Olympics

Leanne Wong, a junior at the University of Florida, has been recognized for her achievements in collegiate gymnastics with a prestigious nomination for the Honda Award. At just 20 years old, her list of achievements is impressive: she clinched the all-around silver medal and floor exercise bronze medal at the 2021 World Championships and served as an alternate for the 2020 Olympic team. However, behind these accolades lies a story of resilience as she recently opened up to Olympics.com.

Balancing her athletic pursuits with entrepreneurial endeavors, Wong is now setting her sights on elite competition while aspiring to represent Team USA at the Paris Olympics. However, her path to Olympic glory hasn’t been without challenges, as she once faced a disruption to her dream of Olympic participation. In 2021, Leanne Wong’s Olympic aspirations hit a snag when she found herself in a situation she couldn’t have imagined.

Broken dreams to golden triumphs

In 2021 ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, She faced an unexpected setback when her training partner and fellow alternate, Kara Eaker, tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in Wong being quarantined in her hotel room. Reflecting on this challenging experience, Wong shared, “After the last Olympics and getting quarantined and then just being stuck in my hotel room, I think that really gave me time to think about what I wanted to do after that.”

This period of introspection fueled Wong’s determination to pursue her dream of competing in the Olympic Games Paris 2024, propelling her back into elite gymnastics and earning her impressive accolades at the subsequent World Championships in Japan, where she secured the all-around silver medal and floor exercise bronze medal.

Since then, Wong’s journey has been nothing short of a whirlwind. Transitioning seamlessly between her roles as a member of the U.S. national team and a standout performer for the University of Florida women’s gymnastics squad, she has shown her talent. Despite the demanding schedule and the pressure of balancing collegiate and elite gymnastics, Wong remains resolute in her pursuits.

“At the end of every college season, I’m like, ‘I want to go back to elite,’ she explained. Wong’s commitment to both her personal goals and her team’s success has been evident, contributing to Team USA’s historic victories at the World Championships in 2022 and 2023.

Leanne Wong’s trailblazing journey in gymnastics

Leanne Wong’s gymnastics career is adorned with a dazzling array of accomplishments, marking her as one of the sport’s brightest stars. The University of Florida junior soared to victory in the 2024 NCAA Championships, clinching the coveted uneven bars title while securing silver medals in both the all-around and vault events in April last month.

This triumph adds to her impressive collegiate record, which includes multiple NCAA team and individual accolades, highlighting her exceptional talent and contributions to Florida’s success on the gymnastics stage. Wong has made a lasting impact while achieving recognition like winning the 2023 World Championship and securing the 2021 World all-around Silver. She was named the U.S. Uneven Bars champion in 2022 and she also won the 2019 American Cup.