Aleah Finnegan, Levi Jung and Hezly Rivera (Image: All via Getty)

"You're so strong" - Aleah Finnegan, Hezly Rivera and more extend support as Levi Jung-Ruivivar reveals battle with eating disorder

Modified Jan 23, 2025 11:37 GMT

Filipino-American gymnast Levi Jung-Ruivivar is taking a leave of absence from Stanford Gymnastics after the Olympian opened up about her struggles with an eating disorder. The Paris Olympian received overwhelming support from fellow gymnasts including Olympic champion Hezly Rivera and NCAA Champion Aleah Finnegan.

Jung-Ruivivar, who competed for Team USA till the 2023 season, revealed her struggles with the disease in an emotional announcement on Instagram on Wednesday, January 22. The 18-year-old said she had been struggling with it for several months, and it was damaging her body and mind, prompting her to take a break.

"Hi everyone, I wanted to come on here today to share some deeply personal information. I have decided to redshirt this season and take a brief leave of absence from Stanford (just the winter quarter) to heal from an eating disorder I have been struggling with,"

''I struggled with an eating disorder prior to my time at [World Olympic Gymnastics Academy] and Stanford. My time at Stanford has been everything I dreamed of and more. I have been loving gymnastics and school and both have been going well, however I felt the disorder was infringing on my ability to fully enjoy these aspects of my life," Levi Jung-Ruivivar

The Asian Championships medalist received overwhelming support from the gymnastics community, who reminded her about how strong she was to share her struggles. Paris Olympics gold medalist Hezly Rivera wrote:

"i love you levi❤️❤️"

Levi Jung-Ruivivar's former American teammates Kayla Dicello and Skye Blakely also shared their love for the Olympian.

"send you so so so much love ❤️," Dicello wrote.

"❤️❤️," Blakely reacted.

Jung-Ruvivar's Filipino teammate and 2024 NCAA champion Aleah Finnegan joined in on showing support for the gymnast, writing:

"You’re so strong. Sending you so much love❤️."

Finnegan's LSU teammate Konnor McClain also shared a heartwarming message for Jung-Ruvivar, writing:

"sending so much love to you! always here for you babe!"

Levi Jung-Ruivivar receives support from fellow gymnasts

The 18-year-old shifted her allegiance to Philipness in 2023 and became the third gymnast from the country to qualify for the Paris Olympics in the following year. She later competed at the Asian Championships and won a bronze medal in Uneven Bars.

Levi Jung-Ruivivar shares the inspiring reasons she chose to open up about her struggles

2022 U.S. Classic - Levi Jung-Ruivivar in action(Source: Getty)

Levi Jung-Ruivivar revealed that she was afraid of opening up about her struggles with the eating disorder, and hadn't even informed her closest friends before finding the courage to make a public announcement. In the aforementioned Instagram post, the 18-year-old explained that she didn't want to feel ashamed of the disease and wanted to become a voice for people facing similar struggles.

'First, I want to be extremely honest with everyone who is a part of my journey. Second, I believe by being transparent I can minimize the shame I feel around it. Third, I want to be a voice for anyone who may be struggling with an eating disorder, you are not alone," Levi Jung-Ruivivar explained her reasons for opening up.

Jung-Ruivivar further added that she would return to training before the start of the spring quarter. The Filipino gymnast is in her freshman year at the Stanford Gymnastics after having committed to the program in November 2023.