Road to Paris: Leanne Wong, clutch gymnast extraordinaire

SP: You went to Tokyo as an alternate. What was that experience like to be there and almost compete?
LW: Yeah, it was definitely an experience since that Olympic Trials, I did not have a very good first day. I had two falls. So going into day two, I really was like, “Well, that already happened. You have nothing to lose.” On day two, I had the best meet of my career. So that was a good note to end on at the Olympic Trials.

I was just fortunate to be an alternate at that point. I got to travel to the Olympics, and that was cool. But with all of the COVID restrictions and everything, unfortunately, my roommate (another gymnast and alternate) tested positive for COVID, and because the beds were less than four feet apart, I was also quarantined. We actually both just stayed in our hotel rooms quarantined by ourselves.

SP: I'm sorry. That's gotta suck.
LW: Everything happens for a reason. But it also gave me time to just think about what I wanted to do afterwards. That's when I decided, “Okay my career is not going to end here in quarantine.” I decided I was gonna go to the World Championships at the end of that year, because I had never been. I wanted to experience it. I won one of my first two world medals. So that was really exciting.

SP: And now, how is it balancing the elite training, with the college training, and also balancing life as a college student?
LW: It’s definitely a lot to balance but every year has looked a little different. My freshman year, I didn't really know what I wanted to do after that college season. I definitely kept college and elite a little bit separate.

This last year, it was different. I went to worlds with my Florida coaches. Stayed in Florida to train all summer for Classics, (U.S.) Championships and Worlds. I made that decision because I also have academic goals. I had some classes that I had to take in person, so I really couldn't go home. So I'm like, “Okay, I'm just gonna make it work.” And I think it went well. I was really happy to be able to make my third Worlds team and for the experience.

The U.S. women's gymnastics team won gold at the 2023 Word Championship. From left Kayla DiCello, Simone Biles, Skye Blakely, Shilese Jones, Joscelyn Roberson and Leanne Wong.

John Cheng

SP: And you played a pretty big role after Joscelyn (Roberson) got injured. You stepped up into the events that you weren't planning on competing.
LW: For the team final, I was only supposed to do beam. In the back gym, we all warmed up. So I did warm up for events. But then I went out on the competition floor and the three girls were warming up their vaults, I was just standing there, you know, ready to cheer them on. And then (Joscelyn) took an out-of-character landing and then she couldn’t get up. So I’m just like, “Okay, is she gonna get up? I don't know.” Then, within a few seconds they were like “Take off your stuff.” So I'm running, throwing off my jacket, my socks and trying to get my things all ready and put together, and then I'm going down the vault runway. It was definitely a little hectic and chaotic.

SP: One thing I've noticed (in gymnastics) is that there has been a shift. People are more supportive of each other—even across the countries, no matter who they represent. My “team” was The Magnificent Seven, the ’96 girls, and I could never imagine them cheering on Russia and Romania. What do you think has contributed to that?
LW: I definitely think gymnastics has changed in the U.S. Different people in the leadership roles. Like Alicia (Sacramone) and Chellsie (Memmel), they've been in our positions—

SP: As former gymnasts.
LW: Yeah. They know exactly how it was like when they were competing. They've definitely helped make it a little more fun. Being a little more relaxed, and being a top country influences others as well. There's just more interaction between athletes from different countries now. And also a lot of girls in the U.S. are competing for different countries. So there's relationships there also.

SP: Also, you've got older gymnasts. Before, once you turn 18, 19, you were done. If you're 20, you're “old.” Now, you've got you, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey. You guys are going to college and you're coming back. And I see some of that team mentality of cheering everybody on has crossed over to elite gymnastics.
LW: Yeah, I also think so. Why shouldn’t elite gymnastics be like college gymnastics? I definitely think the teams are getting a little bit older. It’s not just a bunch of young girls, but there is a mix. Simone (Biles), she's obviously had like 30 world medals and been to two Olympics. So I still feel like a young one because she's so experienced. But it's cool to learn from experienced gymnasts who have been to those big meets multiple times.

Leanne Wong hugs University of Florida's gymnastics head coach Jenny Rowland during the Gators' meet against the Auburn Tigers on Jan. 13, 2023.

Maddie Washburn

SP: For college gymnastics, you compete almost every week. How has that experience, in terms of always being on the floor competing so much, affected you in elite competitions?
LW: In elite you only have maybe five competitions a year. So it's very different that way. And in college gymnastics, skills are easier but I think that just going out and competing, being in front of an audience, and learning how to handle the pressure has been beneficial for me in elite gymnastics.

SP: Growing up, the only Asian gymnast I had to look up to was Amy Chow. Were there any Asian gymnasts that you looked up to?
LW: Definitely Amy Chow. I did remember seeing some pictures and videos of her. I do not remember a lot of Asian gymnasts. But the numbers have grown. Especially in my time as an elite gymnast, I have seen a lot of Asian gymnasts.

SP: The sport in general, at least in the U.S., has become more diverse. There's a lot more gymnasts of color, which I've been very happy to see.
LW: Yeah, there's definitely more diversity in the sport. Also for me, it's been nice to have a diverse team here, in Florida. Gymnastics is definitely one of the most diverse sports here.

Leanne Wong flies through the air on the uneven bars during the team qualifications at the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

John Cheng

SP: As a college athlete, do you have a lot of interaction with other athletes, non gymnasts?
LW: Yeah, I do have some interaction with other sports. We have a nice dining hall facility and there’s a pool and games and stuff. So that's a nice area where a lot of athletes like to hang out. It’s nice to meet new athletes there and then go to their games and tournaments and support them. That's always fun.

SP: We talked about your bowtique. What are some other things you like to do outside of gymnastics?
LW: Honestly, a lot of it's just school and gymnasts. Those are the priorities. And then my business definitely is one of the biggest things because all the bows are handmade. My mom has actually done a lot of manufacturing for me. I'm really grateful for what she's been able to do. I don't only sell bows. I expanded it to leotards. I design all the leos myself. So that's been a process. And just working with customers, helping them match bows to their leos and also, I started making t-shirts. And now I have to keep them in my apartment dorm room. [laughs]

SP: You’ve got a few years, but is this something you think you'll do once you retire from the sport?
LW: I’m not really sure. I'm gonna see how life goes and see where the direction takes me because in college, I'm actually doing pre-med. It'd be cool to do both medicine and business.