By JADEN ALBERTO

Intern

Filipino-American gymnast Levi Jung-Ruivivar is taking a leave of absence from Stanford University as she revealed her battle with an eating disorder which has been affecting her "physically and mentally."

The 18-year-old, who represented the Philippines in the 2024 Paris Olympics, opened up about her current situation which hinders her gymnastics training and schooling.

“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; it was pulling an amount of my mental and physical energy away from the things I hold dear,” said the gymnast in her message on Instagram. 

She hopes to become an advocate for those who grapple with the same troubles. 

“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,” said Jung-Ruivivar. 

After competing for the US in several international competitions, she decided to switch nationalities and pursue further opportunities by representing the Philippines. She then qualified for the Olympics through the 2024 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup series, becoming the youngest Filipino Olympian to compete in the 2024 Summer Games. 

The California native aims to make her return to her academics and gymnastics by the end of March.