Here’s to reciprocal relationships for countries and dual citizen gymnasts — Gracie Kramer tries Simone Biles’ skill for YouTube

I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted after being put through the wringer by the Court of Arbitration for Sport last week.

Earlier this week, Levi Jung-Ruivivar, one of three Americans (the others were Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo) who competed at the Paris Olympics for the Philippines, posted that she regretted being unable to attend a parade held in Manila in honor of all Filipino Olympians. Allegedly, the gymnastics coordinator had told her that the parade was only for medalists. 

Finnegan said in a reply to a fan on TikTok that she had never been informed about the parade. Malabuyo, in a comment on her own TikTok, echoed that sentiment. 

In a follow-up post, Jung-Ruivivar said this week that she, Malabuyo and Finnegan were honored by the president of the Philippines this week for their accomplishments at the Paris Olympics. 

A Filipino newspaper covered their meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., who awarded each gymnast, as well as two golfers, one million Philippine pesos ($17,778.54 USD). 

Before all this went down, Malabuyo and Finnegan hosted a gymnastics clinic in the Philippines. 

It sounds like it was a sincere misunderstanding between the gymnastics coordinator and the three gymnasts about who were to attend the Olympians’ homecoming parade in Manila, and I hope it was. The Philippines seem to have embraced these athletes, and if the aforementioned clinic for young athletes is any indication, the gymnasts have embraced giving back to the country as well.

When athletes switch nationalities, particularly if they are American, there’s often a lot of backlash. But if the relationship appears as reciprocal as the one Jung-Ruivivar, Malabuyo and Finnegan have with the Philippines, I hope this is a sign that may change. Athletes who wish to compete at the highest level should be able to take advantage of opportunities like this, but there should be an expectation that they will serve the country where they compete in the same way they would have served the U.S. — i.e., press events, government events, but also supporting charities and athletic foundations that exist to help upcoming athletes follow in their footsteps. 

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Other gym news

College Gym News has a piece on whether the presence of fifth-years on NCAA rosters affects lineup appearances by underclassmen. They also take a look at eight NCAA teams facing make-it-or-break-it seasons in 2025.  

The “Simone Biles Rising” documentary will return in October for part two, which sees Biles competing through the Paris Olympics. 

Suni Lee is moving to New York. 

Ellie Black of Canada was nominated for the best Fair Play moment at the Olympics, honoring good sports(wo)manship. Vote for her here!

Social media post of the week

Gracie Kramer, a UCLA alum and current professional gymnast (remember when she stood in for Martha Stewart flipping in a Super Bowl commercial?), now has a cool YouTube channel where she takes on a lot of sport swaps. So far, she’s tried high diving, cheerleading, pole vault and men’s gymnastics, where she learns a couple of their skills and teaches them a flip or two in return. 

In this video, Kramer — a former floor specialist for the Bruins — says after seeing gymnastics in Paris, she was inspired to try Simone Biles’ first eponymous floor skill, the Biles I. Check out her attempt below: