Gymnasts balancing simultaneous college and elite careers is still a relatively new phenomenon. However, given the recent influx of international athletes joining NCAA teams and NIL allowing gymnasts the financial flexibility to pursue both disciplines, more and more college gymnasts are chasing their Olympic ambitions heading into the 2024 season. Here’s a brief rundown of who’s already locked in and who’s still in contention for the upcoming Games in Paris.
Punched a Ticket
Luisa Blanco, Alabama, Colombia
A few weeks after snagging silver on bars at the 2023 NCAA championships, then-senior Blanco announced her surprising return to elite competition after a five-year hiatus. This time around, she’s representing her parents’ home country, Colombia. Blanco followed up her all-around win at the 2023 Colombian national championships in July with an eighth-place finish at the 2023 Pan American Games, securing her individual berth to Paris.
Aleah Finnegan, LSU, Philippines
Last season’s NCAA silver medalist on floor, Finnegan finished 32nd in the all-around at the 2023 world championships to earn herself a spot at this summer’s Olympic Games. After competing as a U.S. elite before college, she made…
