Carlos Yulo’s success has brought greater attention to gymnastics among Filipino sports fans. But beyond the country’s most recognizable gymnast, a growing number of Filipino athletes are also gaining experience and making their presence felt on the international stage. Here are five gymnasts helping shape the next chapter of Philippine gymnastics. 

  • Aleah Finnegan – At 23, Fil-Am gymnast Aleah Finnegan has already earned several medals in international competition, including two golds and two silvers at the 31st SEA Games. She began her career representing the United States before deciding to represent the Philippines in 2022. The move led to her becoming part of the Philippine gymnastics team that competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics.  
  • Emma Malabuyo – Twenty-four-year-old Emma Malabuyo is another Fil-Am gymnast who previously represented the United States before deciding to represent the Philippines in 2023. Before making the switch, she competed extensively in major U.S. and international gymnastics competitions, gaining valuable experience at the highest levels of the sport. She has since won medals for the Philippines at the 2023 and 2024 Asian Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships. 
  • Levi Ruivivar – Like Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo, Levi Ruivivar was part of the U.S. National Team before deciding to represent the Philippines. She joined Finnegan and Malabuyo on the Philippine gymnastics team that competed at the Paris Olympics, making the trio among the first Filipinas in more than 60 years to represent the country in Olympic gymnastics. She also won bronze in the uneven bars at the 2024 Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships.  
  • Kylee Kvamme – Kylee Ann Kvamme, who turns 20 on August 31, is the fourth Fil-Am gymnast on this list to have begun her gymnastics career in the United States. Unlike Finnegan, Malabuyo, and Ruivivar, Kylee was not part of the U.S. National Team. She has, however, built an impressive collegiate career with the University of Alabama, where she has emerged as a nationally ranked beam specialist. Representing the Philippines, Kylee has competed at the 2023 Asian Championships in Singapore and the World Championships in Antwerp and is set to compete at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya.  
  • John Ivan Cruz – At 25, John Ivan Cruz has already won international gold medals at the SEA Games and Pacific Rim Championships. He is also Carlos Yulo’s second cousin, though he has built his own path in the sport. Coming from humble beginnings, Cruz has worked his way through the competitive gymnastics scene through years of dedication and hard work, making him an inspiring figure both on and off the gymnastics floor.   

As Philippine gymnastics continues to gain momentum, more athletes are stepping onto the international stage and making names for themselves. These five gymnasts are among the promising talents showing that the future of the sport remains in good hands.