Editor’s Note: The following is an official press release courtesy of LSU’s athletics department.
SINGAPORE – Sophomore Aleah Finnegan qualified as one of the top eight all-arounders in the Asian Championships to continue her journey with the Philippines at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
Finnegan scored a 50.399 in the all-around competition on Friday, June 16, to finish seventh on the day and secure her spot to worlds as an individual qualifier. She posted scores of 12.833 on beam, 12.933 on floor, 13.800 on vault and 10.833 on bars after suffering a fall during her routine.
The Team Philippines member was recognized for the highest execution score on an apparatus at the championship. Her execution scores on vault and floor were higher than any gymnast in the competition.
After placing second on vault, fifth on beam and seventh on beam on Friday, Finnegan earned her spot in three event finals in Singapore on Saturday, June 17.
Finnegan notched two bronze medals, one on vault and one on beam, to become the first Filipino woman to earn multiple medals at the Asian Championships.
Filipino teammate Kylee Kvamme also qualified as an individual competitor and will join Finnegan in representing the Philippines at the World Championships.
The 2023 World Championships will be held at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp, Belgium, from September 30 – October 6. In order to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Finnegan will have to place as one of the top 14 all-arounders in Antwerp.
The scores exclude gymnasts whose teams have already qualified for Paris and who have individually qualified as all-arounders at the 2022 World Championship.