Getting to Know: Levi Jung-Ruivivar (gymnastics)

Filipino-American Levi Jung-Ruivar is making her Olympic debut in Paris.

Ruivivar switched allegiance from the United States to the Philippines last year and stamped her ticket to the Paris Games when she clinched the silver medal in the FIG Artistic Gymnastics held in Doha, Qatar, a couple of weeks before she turned 18.

As Levi qualified for the Summer Olympics, she became the youngest in the Philippine delegation for the Paris Games.

Hailing from Los Angeles, Jung-Ruivivar began her gymnastics journey at the age of one-and-a-half, at her mom’s suggestion. She gradually made her way up the U.S. women’s gymnastics program ladder, ultimately becoming a four-time USA Elite National Team Member. 
At the end of 2022, Jung-Ruivivar, whose father is Filipino, made the transition from Team USA to the Philippines, for which she has competed since.

In September of last year, she signed with Stanford after verbally committing the December prior. Stanford has always been her top option, but she said it was the campus visit that really sealed the deal.
 

“We were on the golf carts, and we were driving around campus. And I just saw a bunch of people playing volleyball, and there were people sitting on the grass and conversing. I was like I could totally see myself here,” Jung-Ruivivar said.
 

She said she was also inspired by Stanford women’s gymnastics’ work ethic and resilience, after the team overcame a rocky start last season to finish fifth at the NCAA National Championship.

Levi might be young in age but she has a lot of gymnastics experience already. It will make her ready to compete in the Olympics against different representatives from other countries in the gymnastics qualifiers that will begin on July 27.

Before Levi jung-Ruivivar competes in the Paris Olympics, let us know some details about the 18-year-old gymnast.