Filipina gymnast Aleah Finnegan added another gold medal to her personal Southeast Asian Games haul.
Aleah Finnegan’s latest SEA Games gold was more than just another medal — it was a triumph over grief and a testament to resilience.
The Olympian dominated the vault finals of the women’s artistic gymnastics competition, posting a score of 13.433 at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games at Thammasat University Rangsit Campus Thursday, Dec. 11.
The victory marked Finnegan’s third gold in the biennial event after ruling the team and vault in her debut in the 2021 edition in Hanoi and complementing her two silver medals there.
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But what made her latest triumph even sweeter was that it came just weeks after the passing of her grandmother, a personal loss that made the achievement especially meaningful.
“For me, the biggest obstacle was the passing of my grandmother just a few weeks ago. That was personally very difficult for me, in terms of going into the gym and keeping up with training,” Finnegan said in an interview with Cignal.
“This gold medal means so much to me. It’s probably the one that mattered the most because of everything that came before it… so many long hours and challenges inside and outside the gym,” she added.
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She acknowledged the emotional challenge of preparing while mourning.
“It was very hard to keep training. I’m just grateful to be surrounded by my family and people who only want the best for me,” Finnegan said.
Vietnam’s Nguyen Thiquynh Nhu took the silver with 13.400, while Malaysia’s Yeap Kang Xian earned the bronze with 12.966.
Finnegan joined her teammates Haylee Garcia (silver, uneven bars) and Justine Ace De Leon (bronze, floor exercise and rings) in a triumphant day for Philippine gymnastics.
(With reports from Belle Gregorio/Cignal)
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.