Filipino gymnasts had a field day at the Paris Olympics 2024. Carlos Yulo led the charge with his history-making double-gold medal. While Aleah Finnegan, Levi Ruivivar, and Emma Malabuyo also broke through as the first Filipina gymnasts to compete in the Olympics in 60 years.

In light of the recent triumphs of Philippine gymnastics in Paris, a growing conversation is stirring within collegiate leagues: should gymnastics finally be included as an official sport?

Arguably, the closest thing the UAAP has to a gymnastics competition today is the UAAP Cheerdance Competition (CDC), with the Salinggawi Dance Troupe (SDT) representing the University of Santo Tomas.

They made a strong debut in the inaugural UAAP CDC in 1994 by winning the championship for three consecutive years (1994-1996) and further solidified their legacy with a historic five-peat from 2002 to 2006, earning a remarkable reputation as the winningest team with 8 championships under their belt.

Born to be gymnasts, starred in Salinggawi’s cast

Home of the finest gymnasts and dancers in the country, most members of the Salinggawi Dance Troupe have extensive experience in national and international gymnastics competitions.

TomasinoWeb interviewed a few members of the SDT to gather their views on whether gymnastics should be the next sport added to the UAAP and how its inclusion could benefit the future of the competition.

Jenny Marie Eusebio, a 19-year-old talent from the Salinggawi Dance Troupe, was recruited due to her impressive achievements representing the country in gymnastics.

(Photo from Jenny Marie Eusebio and Jake Rovin)

Her accolades include a gold medal in rhythmic gymnastics at the 2017 Palarong Pambansa, participation in the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam, and being a finalist in the 2023 Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championships.

Eusebio believes gymnastics deserves a spot in the UAAP to allow athletes to continue their gymnastics careers while attending college.

“Numerous skilled gymnasts, including those who have participated in Palarong Pambansa and those who have represented the national team, often encounter the challenging decision of prioritizing their education over their sport due to the absence of gymnastics in the UAAP,” she said.

Eusebio was disheartened when she had to resign from national duties to focus on her university studies and manage her class schedule.

However, she is hopeful that including gymnastics in the UAAP would provide rising athletes with a platform to chase their dreams and compete while pursuing their education.

“For young gymnasts, it would mean having the opportunity to continue their training and to compete at a high level while being able to study,” Eusebio added.

Another member of the SDT, Hannah Laleine Perez, 21, an artistic gymnast specializing in the balance beam, initially hesitated to join the squad due to her lack of cheerleading experience.

(Photo from Hannah Laleine Perez)

However, her acrobatic skills and impressive achievements, including being a finalist in the ASEAN School Games in Singapore and Malaysia and winning overall championships in the NCR Competition and Palarong Pambansa, earned her a spot on the team.

In her debut year, Perez and the Salinggawi earned a bronze medal with their Lady Gaga-themed routine in the UAAP CDC and was named 2022 Salinggawi Cheer Rookie of the Year.

Perez believes that adding gymnastics to the UAAP can be a pathway for the development and exposure of the sport, explaining that many, like herself, have turned to other competitions like cheerleading due to the absence of gymnastics in the UAAP. “Its [gymnastics’] inclusion would have a great effect, providing more opportunities for student-athletes and encouraging broader participation. UAAP could also be a platform to encourage more investments in training programs and facilities supporting our Filipino Gymnasts,” she told TomasinoWeb. Benjamin Means, 24, whose forte is floor exercise, clinched four gold medals in provincial meets and unit competitions between 2015 and 2017 in Laguna.

(Photo from Rowena Castillo; and Phillip Josef Perez/TomasinoWeb)

Reflecting on his journey, he emphasized the resilience of young Filipino athletes who persevere despite the challenges in gymnastics.

“Hindi talaga biro ang sports na ito, lalo na kung kapos ka at lahat ng gamit o facilities ninyo ay improvised lang. Usually sa mga probinsya ganoon talaga ang scenario pero meron pa ring mga batang nagpupursigi para lang makamit ang tagumpay kahit kulang ang kanilang mga kagamitan,” he said.

Means hopes that the UAAP will recognize gymnastics' potential, explaining that its inclusion would allow many gymnasts, like himself, to continue pursuing the first sport they lived and breathed for.

New routines

Other associations, such as the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA), have included a variety of competitions such as gymnastics in their list of games, and with the rise and success of our Filipino athletes, this offers hope that the UAAP could similarly integrate the sport.

In the National PRISAA Games held last July, UST-Legazpi was the host venue for the gymnastics event. Almost 10,000 collegiate and secondary athletes coming from private colleges and universities all over the country participated across 22 sporting events.

In the 87-year history of the UAAP, attempts to introduce gymnastics into the collegiate rank have never come to fruition, however, Atty. Rebo Saguisag, the executive director of the UAAP, thinks it's time to reconsider.

“I think informally, it’s been suggested to add it to the agenda. We need to formalize and discuss it, but not for this Season 87.” he said.

While introducing this sport could significantly increase interest and inspire future athletes, it also requires addressing critical issues such as the cost of equipment and the availability of adequate space and resources.

“The greater challenge will be for the member schools, which would need to form new teams for sports like weightlifting and gymnastics. This involves additional gym space, equipment, student-athletes, scholarships, uniforms, and coaches,” Saguisag said.

Despite these challenges, the initial steps towards incorporating gymnastics into the UAAP could be a catalyst to improve facilities, coaching programs, and develop gymnasts nationwide.

“We want to elevate all sports simultaneously. We must continue to support and grow our current focus on volleyball and basketball while finding ways to uplift other sports without diverting resources from them,” he said.

The success of UAAP Cheerleading competitions has already demonstrated the competitive spirit and potential for growth within schools, and by introducing gymnastics, the UAAP can build on this foundation, encouraging more students to engage in the sport and ultimately contributing to the development of national-level athletes.