Carlos Yulo, the pride of the Philippines, returned home as a national hero. After clinching two gold medals in the men’s floor exercise and vault at the Paris Olympics, Yulo received a grand welcome from his nation. His victories, marking the greatest success in the nation’s Olympic history, were celebrated with grand honors. The list included a nationally televised tribute by the president, a homecoming parade, and promises of more than $1 million in cash and gifts. However, as the nation reveled in Yulo’s triumph, another Filipino gymnast found herself sidelined from the festivities!

The 18-year-old gymnast has had her own remarkable journey as an Olympian in Paris. Unfortunately, she failed to secure a medal for the Philippines. Although she could not grab an Olympic medal in Paris, the teenage girl has already created waves in the gymnastics realm. Her name and accolades shine brightly in the pages of NCAA gymnastics history. She has been a part of Stanford Cardinal, which houses names like Brody Malone and Asher Hong. Moreover, she is the third artistic gymnast to have qualified for the Olympics from the Philippines. Despite all her achievements, did her failure to win any medal at the Paris Olympics become the reason behind her being subjected to an unexpected and painful exclusion?

Gymnasts heartbreaking exclusion after she honored her roots but missed Paris Olympics glory

Levi Jung Ruivivar holds dual citizenship in the US and the Philippines. She has continued to represent the US in several competitions previously, but this year she chose to honor her roots. Representing the Philippines for the first time at the 2024 Olympics, she competed alongside Yulo and other top athletes, connecting deeply with her Filipino roots. But while Yulo basked in the adoration of fans and leaders after his return to his nation, Ruivivar was not even informed about the same.

Despite not securing a podium finish, Levi Ruivivar was eager to attend the post-Olympics celebration with Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. However, she was deeply disappointed to find out that she, along with two others, was not invited to the event, which was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Ruivivar took to Instagram to express her confusion and hurt, revealing that she had reached out to her National Sports Association (NSA) about the event but was informed it was only for medalists. “I truly wish from the bottom of my heart that I could have attended and been part of this event, but unfortunately I was never informed that I was invited or presented with the opportunity to go,” she stated.

She was even more disheartened when she saw that all the other Filipino Olympians, except for her, Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo attended the celebration. Ruivivar had originally heard that all Olympians were invited, but after clarifying with her NSA, she learned it was only for medalists. “I wanted to be part of the celebration with my fellow Olympians and share in the excitement of our nation’s success,” she said, underscoring her pride in the Philippines’ achievements despite the oversight.

On one hand, Yulo enjoyed an evening full of free buffets and luxury gifts. On the other hand, Ruivivar’s experience and dissatisfaction underscore the complexities that often accompany Olympic glory. She also faced barriers in her Olympic quest, which might have affected her performance!

What hurdles did Levi Jung Ruivivar face in her quest in the City of Love?

During her time at the Olympic Village, Levi Ruivivar had a rough patch, suffering a severe allergic reaction, likely from tree nuts. Her symptoms included an itchy chest, breathing troubles, and a constricted throat. Despite this, she got medical help and tried to push through, but her Paris journey didn’t quite go as hoped. She ended up 40th in the all-around, 40th on uneven bars, 64th on balance beam, and 54th on floor exercise—definitely not the results she was aiming for.

Adding to her woes, Ruivivar’s recent Instagram post also had a WhatsApp chat screenshot with her NSA head, Mrs. Cynthia. In their conversation from the 12th, Ruivivar had inquired about attending the post-Olympics celebration with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. She was told it was only for medalists, which turned out to be untrue. Despite the setbacks, Ruivivar expressed her deep gratitude to her gymnastics fans in the Philippines.

Despite Ruivivar’s recent comments revealing her disappointment with how she was treated, it hasn’t dented her love for her country. “I am truly excited to continue competing for the Philippines, and I look forward to taking every opportunity to come to the Philippines and hopefully inspire the new generation of Filipina gymnasts that are the future,” added the 18-year-old gymnast. Her exclusion from the post-Olympics celebration, though, does spark questions about whether all athletes are getting the recognition and support they deserve, not just those who snag a medal.