Levi Jung-Ruivivar takes control of her own health and her own story — Janelle McDonald talks UCLA’s Big Ten prospects on The Bruin Insider

Levi Jung-Ruivivar, a freshman at Stanford who competed at the Paris Olympics for the Philippines, announced this week that she would redshirt this season to recover from an eating disorder. 

In a sport where lineup absences are often noted by fans and broadcasters alike, and rarely annotated by coaches or athletes with the specific reason for the gymnast being out, Jung-Ruivivar’s honesty is startling. Especially considering she is dealing with an eating disorder, another open secret of the gymnastics world that often comes with a lot of misplaced shame for gymnasts and teams alike. 

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Stanford often holds back its freshmen from lineups early in the season. But Jung-Ruivivar was a celebrated elite who had made it to the Olympics, and was considered a rising star for the program. When she didn’t compete right away, there was a great deal of speculation about possible injuries, Stanford’s overreliance on upperclassmen and other conspiracy theories. Last week, it was noted on a broadcast. Of course, it’s none of our business, but that doesn’t mean it’s not fuel for the fan fire anyway.

Jung-Ruivivar had been open about health issues on her social media before. While in Paris this summer, she recorded and posted a video about suffering an anaphylactic reaction to something she ate and working through the resulting stress and exhaustion. She had posted a few videos as the 2025 season began, but nothing from meets. Still, it is remarkably brave of her to go on social media and put this decision into her own words. 

Wishing her a very speedy recovery.  

Other gym news

Balance Beam Situation has your schedule and links for this week, and the GIFs from last week. 

I wrote a pretty cool (if I do say so myself) story on how maternity-leave policy affects the women who coach NCAA gymnastics for College Gym News.

But you are probably here for the CGN leotard rankings. While you’re at it, watch these difficult judging situations and see what a real judge has to say about them.

Beacon, USAG’s therapy dog who was hospitalized in September, is back on the job. Good boy. 

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Five at The IX: Janelle McDonald on the Bruin Insider Show

Janelle McDonald talks about the UCLA team’s depth this season and the strategies she uses in the gym to fuel the competitive instinct that has driven the Bruins to four victories in their five meets so far this season. We also hear McDonald’s thoughts on the Bruins’ place in the Big Ten conference as the team has their home opener and first Big Ten meet at Pauley Pavilion against Illinois this weekend.