College has paved the way for Leanne Wong to become the CEO of her gymnastics (and life)

Wednesday, September 20 – It’s Leanne Wong’s 20th birthday, and hopefully the day she’ll make her third U.S. world team.

On her last day as a teenager, Wong placed fifth in the all-around at the U.S. women’s world team selection camp with a 54.850, capping off a domestic elite season that saw her finish second at the Core Hydration Classic and third at the U.S. championships, behind Simone Biles and Shilese Jones, ascending to the all-around podium for the first time in four appearances as a senior at the meet.

The 2020 Olympic team alternate and three-time world medalist’s previous best finish at a U.S. championships was fifth (2019, 2021), before she joined the University of Florida gymnastics team and underwent a steady transformation into a consistent stronghold for both the Gators and the U.S. women’s program.

Wong has always been talented – there’s no question about that – but something has clicked since her arrival at Florida two years ago. With the help of the Gators’ coaching staff, specifically head coach Jenny Rowland and assistant coach Owen Field, Wong has built upon the foundation she established at her former club gym – Great American Gymnastics Express (GAGE).

She’s still known for bringing a balletic aura to all events, especially beam and floor, but now she’s a college student (pre-med, because the woman does it all) and business owner, in addition to being one of the top NCAA and elite gymnasts in the world.

College makes the average person grow up quick, but Leanne Wong isn’t average. She’s not only matured and gained confidence over the past few years; she’s owning her gymnastics, just like her business, Leanne Wong Bowtique.

“I definitely have a busy schedule with school, gymnastics, both college and elite gymnastics, and then obviously my business on the side,” Wong told Gymnastics Now. “So I definitely have a packed schedule, but just really living day-by-day and just setting goals for myself and accomplishing them one at a time is what keeps me going.”

It’s all intertwined for the most part, which leads to funny instances like Wong’s USA Gymnastics bio listing her business as her gym, instead of Florida, for a brief timing during the Core Hydration Classic in early August. (Wong said on X it was probably because she signed her business up for a booth at USAG’s national congress, so “maybe there was a glitch” … “But, I love my bows!”)

Then there’s all the signs in the crowd, fans and gymnasts alike wearing her bows (there’s low-key a war happening between the scrunchie and Leanne Wong bows at any given USAG competition), and even her college/elite coaches, Rowland and Field, sporting shirts advertising her business.

Wong’s life is busy, no doubt, but the business gives her an outlet away from training and school – something that she’ll be able to grow for years to come, long after she’s retired and graduated.

“My business is definitely something I like to do in my free time,” Wong said after her bronze medal performance at U.S. championships. “So after gymnastics and school, I like to do my business and manage everything on Instagram and repost all the little girls and their bows and all my Leanne Wong Bowtique stuff.”

Wong has become more “efficient with practice” since getting to Florida. Every turn counts – she’s not just wasting energy doing things that won’t benefit her. With all she has going on, she has to be purposeful with everything, but Wong seems to thrive under that pressure, instead of crumbling under the constant onslaught from every direction.

“I just fell in love with competing,” Wong said of not really having a break from gymnastics since the pandemic. “I just find a lot of fun in doing that.”

“College is a lot of fun and elite gymnastics is like a different type of fun,” Wong said on a separate occasion. “And getting to travel all around the world when you put in all the hard work and made an assignment, that’s just the best feeling, and competing for the country.”

The 2021 world all-around silver medalist has truly taken control of her gymnastics, just like the rest of her life, and it’s the little things that have added up over time, like discussing deductions with judges at national team camps and why she got the scores that she did.

“I feel like a lot of coaches do it for their athletes, but I don’t know,” Wong said. “I feel like I’m in charge now, so I need to do what I need to do to help me. My coaches are always on the side – they’re listening as well – but it’s always good to hear it straight from the judges rather than someone telling you.”

At championships, Wong was asked if she likes being in charge. She responded coyly but confident, “Yeahhh.”

Elaborating, Wong said, “Coaches are always there to help, but it’s the athlete who’s going to be doing the most work.”

That work has paid off for Wong so far, and with the prospect of worlds and the Olympics next year, as well as her junior season with the Gators, she’s soaking it all in.

“This season, I’m definitely just still trying to balance both elite and college gymnastics and just perfecting the ways I’m doing everything,” Wong said. “Especially coming into the next year, and I really just want to enjoy the sport and just have fun with what I’m doing, especially since we won’t be doing gymnastics for the rest of our lives. So I just really want to enjoy every opportunity that I’m given.”

Opportunities abound for CEOs, and Leanne Wong, for all she’s accomplished so far, has plenty more in store for the most important business: her life.

Karyssa D’Agostino contributed to this story.