On April 5 at the University Park Regional Final, Aleah Finnegan mounted the beam and executed a flawless routine that was smooth and relaxed, culminating in a perfect landing. Score? 9.95. This is just one instance when the LSU star performed her heart out. The LSU senior has been the Tigers’ savior this year, consistently scoring high and performing well under pressure.
However, due to all these perfect 10 scores and accolades, many fans have shown interest in the St. Louis native. But what drives the sensation to acquire all these? Well, Aleah Finnegan’s parents have always been her support system. Let’s dive into details about Aleah Finnegan’s parents: Linabelle Finnegan and the late Don Finnegan.
Who is Aleah Finnegan’s father?
Aleah Finnegan’s father is Don Finnegan, who was the sixth child of Mildred (Miller) and Eugene Finnegan. Born on May 9, 1956, in Ames, Iowa, he attended Ames High School. And if fans are wondering how did Aleah get the sport in her blood, well, it is from her father. Don was also a sports person and became the first underclassman during his school days—he won the state wrestling championship back in 1973. Later, the same resilience went with him to university.
When Don joined Iowa State University (ISU), he earned four letters in wrestling there and also became an NCAA Championship team member in 1977. Since then, Aleah Finnegan’s father made several achievements, winning the weight class at the Big 8 conference and also receiving All-American honors in 1989. Later, after graduation, he had to quit his wrestling career and moved to California, where he joined Enterprise Holdings, Inc. and dedicated his 36.5 years of life to his job. He had to retire due to health issues in 2017 from a good position—as a vice president of operations.
But as they say, your work, your achievements, never go out of sight. Don was included in the Hall of Fame of his alma mater, Ames High School, in 2011. And as far as him being a father is concerned, Don supported his daughter Aleah and was involved in all her activities. He was her biggest cheerleader, attended theater programs with her, and whatnot. But unfortunately, Aleah could spend only a few years with her father. When she was just 16 years old, Aleah Finnegan lost her father to cancer on August 24, 2019. But the love and support Don gave to Aleah was immense, and with his blessings, Aleah is only moving forward. Though Aleah struggled to come to terms with the situation, and the family together suffered with financial problems to such an extent that they had to ask for funding for final rituals.
When recounting the influence her father had on her gymnastics career, Aleah said, “My dad was my biggest fan and showed me constant support through all stages of my career. Although he isn’t physically here, I always feel his support, and that motivates me to keep going.” Apart from the love and support of Aleah’s father, her mother has also been a strong pillar.
Who is Aleah Finnegan’s mother?
Linabelle, the mother of the LSU gymnast, was born and grew up in Caloocan City, Philippines, but later moved to the US for her studies when she was 19. Nonetheless, she has ensured that her daughters remain linked to their cultural heritage. Later, she met with Aleah Finnegan’s father and they got married on August 06, 1994. Together the couple has four daughters, Hannah, Aleah, Jennah, and Sarah, and being a mother, Linabelle played an important role in nurturing the future of her daughter—getting Aleah enrolled in gymnastics classes when she was just 2.
But what influenced Aleah to represent the Philippines? Well, her mother’s background did. As time passed, the 2024 WCGA All American on Floor grew more enchanted with the Philippines, listening to her mother’s stories of the beautiful distant land. Her love for her mother’s homeland was further deepened by her visit to Manila. As she put it, “What an incredible way to give back to my mom, who sacrificed so much, and to the rest of my family members who are still in the Philippines. To represent them and my heritage is something I can’t even put into words.”
What is Aleah Finnegan’s parents’ nationality?
Aleah Finnegan’s parents’ nationality is a combination of Filipino and American. Linabelle Finnegan is Filipino, while Don Finnegan is American.
With this, we now know about the supporting pillars in the gymnasts’ life. And as she continues to pursue her passion, her parents are surely proud of her!
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