“As a competitive gymnast, the pressure and stress will always be there, set by you, your coach, or outside factors. It’s important to learn how to control the nerves when competing and learn to enjoy the moment.” Leanne Wong’s words once echoed wisdom, calm, and experience. But even the most composed athletes can have a breaking point, and unfortunately for Wong, it arrived at the worst possible time at NCAA Gymnastics Championship.
After a whirlwind journey that took her from the 2024 Swiss Cup straight into the NCAA postseason, things took a heartbreaking turn at the national semifinals. The University of Florida standout, known for her elegance and laser-sharp consistency, faltered in a moment that mattered most. Her performance didn’t count toward the team’s score, eliminating her from contention for the NCAA all-around title. A title, mind you, that she has never won in her collegiate career. What was supposed to be her crowning moment instead became a devastating footnote.
Senior writer for the Florida Gators, Scott Carter, took to X, posting, “Standings after first rotation: Oklahoma 49.4000, #Gators 49.3000, Missouri 49.2250, Alabama 49.1250.” It was a steady start for Florida, but not the explosive one they needed. On beam, Selena Harris-Miranda dazzled with a 9.9500, but Leanne Wong’s 9.8000 brought the rotation average down. Her score ended up being the lowest for the team. And that small slip echoed louder as the meet progressed. The vault rotation was a major blow! Florida posted their lowest vault total of the entire season. By then, Missouri had crept ahead, and the Gators found themselves scrambling. The pressure piled on for the bars, with their NCAA finals hopes teetering and Wong’s all-around title dreams slipping away by the second.
Standings after first rotation:
1. Oklahoma 49.4000
2. #Gators 49.3000
3. Missouri 49.2250
4. Alabama 49.1250
Florida was solid on beam, but not great other than for Selena Harris-Miranda (9.9500)…considering Leanne Wong (9.8000) had team’s lowest score, UF not in bad shape.
— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) April 17, 2025
And this wasn’t just a bad day at the office. For Leanne Wong, it followed one of the most grueling travel experiences of her career. After representing the U.S. as an alternate in the 2024 Paris Olympics, she headed to the Swiss Cup. Only to be met with delay after delay. “I was super thankful to get there 24 hours later, until all of my bags did not show up. Everyone’s bags—my coach’s, my mom’s, like, all their bags—showed up, except for mine. So, I was like, “OK, this is going great, I guess’.” Despite the chaos, she still competed. But the toll was clear. Exhaustion lingered as she returned to NCAA competition, and on this big stage, it showed.
Wong has long been one of the brightest stars in collegiate gymnastics, a world champion with Olympic pedigree and leadership at the core of Florida’s program. But the NCAA all-around title, the crown jewel, continues to elude her. This year’s semifinal stumble doesn’t just sting because of the performance. It stings because it means another year, another near miss for one of the sport’s most composed and consistent athletes. And now, barring a miracle, that elusive all-around gold remains the one hole in an otherwise brilliant NCAA legacy.
The post Massive Blow for Leanne Wong as Major NCAA Gymnastics Title Slips Following Poor Performance at Semi-Finals appeared first on EssentiallySports.
