By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Filipina gymnast Aleah Finnegan is headed to the 2024 Paris Olympics after exhibiting an impressive performance in the 52nd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

The 20-year-old Finnegan earned the Olympics qualification as she ended up as one of the 14 best gymnasts in the individual all-around category yesterday (Philippine time).

Finnegan finished with 12.833 points in the floor exercise category, 13.400 points on the vault apparatus, 12.433 points on the uneven bars, and 12.700 points on the balance beam.

However, her 51.366 total score was not enough for her to play in the championship round, but already good enough to become the third Philippine representative in the upcoming Summer Games.

The Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers standout will join fellow gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo and pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena in the Paris Olympics to be held in France.

“It was such an honor to compete for the Philippines on the world stage. To be able to represent my family and just knowing that I did everything I could out there was really special,” Finnegan said in an article posted on the LSU website.

Jay Clark, Finnegan’s gymnastics head coach at LSU, said the school will support the Filipino-American on her journey to the Paris Summer Games with continuous training.

“We couldn’t be happier as a program for what Aleah has accomplished. She represented LSU, her family and her heritage with the utmost confidence and poise,” Clark said.

“It was a joyful moment for all of us here to watch her hit four events and do it the way that she did it. We want Tiger Nation to get behind her as she pushes on toward next summer in Paris,” he added.

The Filipina-American Finnegan previously represented the United States in gymnastics competitions before deciding to carry the Philippines’ colors last year.

Playing for the Philippines, Finnegan bagged a bronze medal in the vault apparatus at the Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Singapore last July./ASC, WDJ