Emma Malabuyo, Aleah Finnegan, Levi Ruivivar await Paris Olympics fate after tough qualification round bids

Filipina gymnasts Aleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo, and Levi Ruivivar put up brave stands to open their campaigns in the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday, but their fate now hangs in balance. 

All competing in Subdivision 3, the Philippine bets started out their campaign on the balance beam with the 21-year-old Emma Malabuyo garnering the highest point with her 12.233 markers to initially place 32nd. 

The 18-year-old Jung-Ruivivar and the 21-year-old Finnegan then followed suit with their 11.866 and 11.466 outings. Their scores, however, weren't enough to make it to the top 8, the necessary mark to advance to the medal round. 

Malabuyo once again had the best output in the floor exercise among the three Filipinas, scoring 13.100, but it was also not enough to advance. Finnegan and Jung-Ruivivar earned 12.733 and 12.433 points, respectively. 

The same scenario transpired in the vault where the trio struggled as Jung-Ruivivar scored 13.600 while Finnegan and Malabuyo put together 13.383 and 13.266 markers, respectively. 

They ended their runs on the uneven bars, where Jung-Ruivivar carded 13.200 from her routine while Finnegan and Malabuyo scored 12.566 and 12.500, respectively. 

Currently, Jung-Ruivivar ranks 28th in the all-around while Malabuyo and Finnegan are at 29th and 32nd. 

Only the top 24 athletes will advance to the all-around finals while top eight athletes from each apparatus will book a ticket to the medal round. 

Their final rankings and qualification for the next round will be determined once all gymnasts are done in the qualification round as rules state that each country can only have two athletes in the finals. 

READ MORE | Philippines at the 2024 Paris Olympics

—JKC, GMA Integrated News