Cover Aleah Finnegan is the 21-year-old gymnast and one of our Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2024, pursuing her path toward Olympic glory (Photo: Aleah Finnegan)
Aleah Finnegan is the 21-year-old gymnast and one of our Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2024, pursuing her path toward Olympic glory (Photo: Aleah Finnegan)
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Meet Aleah Finnegan the 21-year-old gymnast representing the Philippines balancing elite sports, university life and a passion for music and vlogs
This young gymnast’s journey, from her early days mimicking her sisters’ flips in their American home to proudly donning the colours of the Philippines on global stages, represents the power of dreams.
Aleah Finnegan initially pursued her athletic dreams under the American flag but then found a connection to her Filipino heritage that led her to embrace a new path closer to her Olympic dreams.
More than the chalk-dusted arenas and university lecture halls, the Filipino American gymnast is also balancing handstands with life’s ups and downs. Her achievements on the mat, fueled by passion and perseverance, earned her a spot among the Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2024.
Read more: 6 elite athletes from Asia redefining sports excellence
As Finnegan prepares for the Paris 2024 Olympics, here are five inspiring facts about this dedicated gymnast, whose unflinching dedication embodies the resilient Filipino spirit.
Familial influence
Finnegan’s passion for gymnastics began when she was just two years old. The youngest of four Finnegan siblings mirrored the flips and twirls of her three sisters in a house where gymnastics was as common as breakfast. “I started gymnastics when I was about two years old. Growing up in the sport, I loved it. I didn’t really know anything else,” she said.
Her oldest sister, Hannah, represented the Philippines at the 2011 Southeast Asian Games. “It helps to have three older sisters who know gymnastics. We were doing gymnastics at the same time, so it was something that we could relate to and it helped us grow closer.”
Business marketing undergraduate
While excelling in gymnastics, Aleah is also pursuing a degree in Business Marketing at Louisiana State University.
“I’m thankful to have the opportunity to do it all at the same time: studying at university, competing for my university and also competing for the Philippines. It can be a lot on my plate, but staying in the moment and not thinking too far ahead helps me manage everything.”
Read more: Meet the 15 Filipino athletes set to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Triumph over tragedy
From the late summer of 2019, Finnegan faced a series of trying circumstances. In early August of that year, her father Don Finnegan passed away after battling cancer, leaving her and her family devastated.
“My dad was my biggest fan and showed me constant support through all stages of my career. Although he isn’t physically here, I always feel his support and that motivates me to keep going.”
At the time, Aleah was coming off the best elite competitions of her career, winning gold at the 2019 Pan American Games and finishing fourth on vault at the US championships only three weeks earlier. The contrasting emotions were difficult for her to process, but she found strength in her family and faith.
Read more: The power of play: How sports can unleash potential and uplift lives
From USA to the Philippines
After missing out on qualifying for the 2020 Olympics and undergoing ankle surgery, she thought her Olympic dreams were over and opted to retire from elite gymnastics. All of that changed when an opportunity knocked.
Aside from getting closer to her Olympic dreams, Finnegan made the decision to switch from representing the United States to the Philippines in gymnastics to reconnect with her Filipino heritage and to honour her mother’s roots in Manila. “What an incredible way to give back to my mom who sacrificed so much, and to the rest of my family members who are still in the Philippines. To represent them and my heritage is something I can’t even put into words,” she shared.
Read more: Gymnast Aleah Finnegan is bringing her Filipino spirit to the Olympic stage
Talented beyond the mat
Above Aleah Finnegan enjoys creating content for her YouTube channel, where she shares vlogs about her life and gymnastics meets.
Just when you think this 21-year-old gymnast is already busy juggling the rigours of elite sports with the demands of university, Finnegan plays the piano and also loves creating and editing videos. She has a YouTube channel where she chronicles her daily life and gymnastics meets through vlogs.
Alongside her athletic and creative pursuits, Finnegan passionately supports cancer awareness—a cause that holds profound personal significance due to her father’s courageous battle with the disease.
Meet more 2024 Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow in Sports.
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Syrah is Tatler Philippines’ Power & Purpose editor, where she spotlights extraordinary journeys shaping the Philippines and Asia. She covers business, innovation, impact, and culture—chasing the people, ideas and forces shaping how we live and think today.
