Just 18 years old and with a bright future ahead, Levi Jung-Ruivivar is already looking to help develop future Olympic Filipina gymnasts.
The youngest athlete in the Philippine’s delegation for Paris 2024, Olympian Levi Jung-Ruivivar knows it takes a village to raise a child, more so a future gymnastic champion.
Even at the age of18, Ruivivar is already keen on giving back to the sport that gave the country multiple gold medals in the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
“I’ve said in the beginning when I started competing for the Philippines that I’m really hopeful that going forward, I can hopefully inspire or work with the younger Filipina athletes. I really think that there's a lot of potential in Filipina gymnastics,” the young Olympian spoke in One News’ The Big Story.
Ruivivar got to bond with young gymnasts in the country back in June, before they trained in Metz.
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“It really takes a long time to build a program, to get to this level, and to be able to give them a lot of information from the start, I think that would be really helpful to them.”
Jung-Ruivivar also looked back on her Olympics debut. She finished 40th overall in the women's qualification with a total of 51.099 points--coming from 13.600 in valt, 13.200 in uneven bars (40th), 12.433 in floor exercise (54th), and 11.866 in balance beam (64th).
“It was just a crazy experience. I feel like I learned so much. There were a lot of ups and downs through just qualifying in the Olympics in the first place, through the World Cup series and once I got to the Olympics, there’s a lot of ups and downs as well.”
“In a week of competition, I had anaphylactic tree nut allergy which took me out of training for a day. My muscles were fatigued so that was a whole experience by itself and then competing was incredible.”
[ALSO READ: "100% safe and healthy” | Levi Jung-Ruivivar on the mend after suffering health scare ahead of Paris 2024]
But one thing that stood out for the 18-year-old was the ever-supportive crowd of the Filipinos present when she competed alongside Malabuyo and Alleah Finnegan in the women’s qualifiers.
“Seeing that Filipino crowd was really inspiring and just made me so happy,” Jung-Ruivivar said.
[ALSO READ: Days after suffering severe allergic reaction, Filipina gymnast Levi Jung-Ruivivar relishes incredible Olympic experience in Paris 2024]
It may be her first time representing the Philippines in the Olympic stage, but Jung-Ruivivar felt the love and support from the Filipinos wherever she went.
“It means so much to represent the Philippines. I have to say the Filipino community is probably one of the most supportive communities I've ever been a part of and it means a lot to me that everyone has just gone behind me.
“No matter where I am in the world, I feel like the Filipino community [are] behind me. I think that gives me a lot of pride and a lot of honor.”
Jung-Ruivivar is in the Philippines along with Finnegan, Malabuyo, and Pinay golfer Dottie Ardina. They were given a warm welcome by the Office of the President on Thursday, Aug. 23, at the Malacañan Palace--the second batch of Olympians honored at their homecoming.
Recall that Levi shared how she was "really hurt" upon learning that the female gymnasts, as well as the two golfers, missed out on the heroes' parade held for all the Paris 2024 Olympians.
She shared screenshots of her conversation with Gymnastics Association of the Philippines President Cynthia Carrion, who clarified the parade would be for medalists only.
[ALSO READ: Levi Jung-Ruivivar speaks after missing out on PH Olympics homecoming: 'I was really hurt']
The four athletes also received cash incentives of a million pesos each from Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and from PAGCOR.
[ALSO READ: Deuxième partie: Second batch of Paris 2024 Olympians get Palace welcome, incentives]