American-born gymnast Levi Jung-Ruivivar, who represented the Philippines at last year’s Paris Olympics, announced plans to retire from competition to address her health.
She said she would begin treatment for an eating disorder.
“Hello everyone, I wanted to come here today to share some deeply personal information. I have decided to redshirt this season and take a short leave from Stanford (winter quarter only) to heal from an eating disorder I have been struggling with. “I will be back in school and training before spring quarter begins,” Jung-Ruivivar wrote in a statement via a collaborative Instagram post with the Stanford gymnastics account.
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Levi Jung-Ruivivar during the 2023 USA Gymnastics Championships at the SAP Center on August 25, 2023. (Kyle Terada/USA Today Sports)
Jung-Ruivivar, 18, is a student at Stanford University. He added that his struggle with the disorder has harmed his athletic career and his time as a student.
“My time at Stanford has been everything I dreamed of and more. I loved gymnastics and school and did well in both, yet I felt like the disorder was infringing on my ability to fully enjoy these aspects of my life; it was messing me up. abundant amount of my physical and mental energy away from the things I appreciate,” the star gymnast wrote.
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Jung-Ruivivar admitted that she experienced “a lot of trepidation” as she weighed whether or not to speak out about her private battle. But she determined it was “important” for her to share what she was dealing with.
Levi Jung-Ruivivar competes on the uneven bars during the US Classic women’s senior division at Maverik Center on July 30, 2022, in West Valley City, Utah. (Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
“As an elite athlete, I felt it was vital to seek help to stop the damage I was doing to my body and mind,” he added.
Jung-Ruivivar also expressed her gratitude for the support she received from her loved ones and coaches, adding that she “looks forward to enjoying all of this and more as I overcome my eating disorder.”
Levi Jung-Ruivivar in the Mixed Cup on March 20, 2022. (Marijan Murat/Picture Alliance via Getty Images)
Fellow gymnast Hezly Rivera showed her support for Jung-Ruivivar, writing “I love you Levi” beneath the social media post. Gymnast Skye Blakely added a couple of heart emojis in the comments section.
In a separate social media post addressed to Jung-Ruivivar, Stanford University wrote: “supporting you every step of the way.”
