Fil-Am Olympians Aleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo lead gymnastics clinic in Manila

Photo from levijungruivivar/Instagram

Taking the lead, Filipino American gymnasts and Olympians Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo have begun giving back to the country by conducting a women’s gymnastics training clinic in Manila.

Fresh from their successful run in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they represented the country in the women’s artistic gymnastics after 60 years, the duo spearheaded the “Yes Girl” Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Training Clinic on Aug. 17 at the MVPSF Gymnastics Center in Intramuros.

The event drew over 80 young gymnasts eager to learn from the seasoned Olympians. Malabuyo expressed her excitement on Instagram, sharing a story where she and Finnegan demonstrated a routine to the participants and described the day as an enjoyable experience teaching young gymnasts around Manila.

The clinic was organized by the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) under the leadership of its president, Cynthia Carrion. It provided Aleah Finnegan and Malabuyo the opportunity to share their expertise with the next generation of Filipino gymnasts, including Elaiza and Eldrew Yulo, the younger siblings of two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo.

This initiative followed a similar effort by their teammate Levi Jung-Ruivivar, who also competed alongside Finnegan and Malabuyo in women’s artistic gymnastics for Team Philippines. Jung-Ruivivar held her own clinic at the same venue two months earlier, with Carlos Yulo, before the team left for Paris.

Meanwhile, Filipino Canadian swimmer Kayla Sanchez, fresh off her semi-final appearance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, also returned to her roots by hosting a three-day swim camp in Pampanga. Sanchez, a two-time Olympian and medalist who previously represented Canada, led the camp in her father’s hometown, aiming to inspire and train aspiring Olympic swimmers.

During the camp at New Clark City, Sanchez expressed her confidence that the region would produce future Olympians, referring to the young participants as “up-and-coming Olympians.” In a social media post, she also encouraged them, urging them to “Believe in yourself!”

These efforts by Finnegan, Malabuyo and Sanchez highlight the dedication of Filipino athletes to nurturing the next generation, ensuring their legacy continues to inspire future Olympic champions.