By Kendall Merriett – UF Athletics Communications
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Senior gymnast Leanne Wong is headed off for another international adventure, competing for the United States Saturday, Nov. 9 in the Swiss Cup Zürich. After some flight maintenance issues that pushed Tuesday’s planned departure to a Thursday arrival, Wong and UF Assistant Coach Owen Field made it to Zürich.
Wong is making her third trip to Europe in a 13-month span – all to represent the Red, White and Blue. In October of 2023, Wong joined Team USA as they won World Championships gold in Antwerp, Belgium<https://floridagators.com/news/2023/10/4/gymnastics-us-win-world-championships-team-gold.aspx>. She was in Paris this summer for the Olympic Games as a USA replacement athlete<https://floridagators.com/news/2024/6/30/gymnastics-leanne-wong-named-to-us-olympic-team-as-replacement-athlete.aspx>. Now, Wong adds another passport stamp this week for the Swiss Cup.
Swiss Cup Video Stream<https://video.stv-fsg.ch/swiss-cup-zuerich> | 9:45amET start Nov. 9
Swiss Cup site<https://www.swiss-cup.ch/en/swiss-cup-zuerich/>
This will be Wong’s seventh year competing for Team USA, starting back in 2017 when she was just a freshman in high school. Throughout the years Wong has racked up several accolades during her elite gymnastics career and is looking to add at least a few more.
“Just having another opportunity to represent team USA… it’s just been super honoring since 2017,” said Wong. “Looking forward to another chance to represent the country.”
It was announced on Nov. 1 that Wong and Fuzzy Benas<https://soonersports.com/sports/mens-gymnastics/roster/fuzzy-benas/19043> of the University of Oklahoma, would represent the United States for the 2024 Swiss Cup. Past Swiss Cup champions include two-time Olympian Jade Carey, Tokyo Olympian Yul Moldauer, Allan Bowen and Addison Fatta.
The set up for this mixed pairs team includes an elimination system. The team total is based on the combined scores after each round. Each team can choose which event they would like to compete in each round.
The first round will consist of 10 teams with the teams ranking nine and 10 being eliminated. The second round will consist of the remaining eight teams, with the bottom four ranked teams being eliminated. Then there will be a semifinal to determine who will compete for the championship and third place. The team with the highest total wins the Swiss Cup.
“I heard that it is a fun competition. It is something different that I’ve never done,” said Wong. “It’s not like a typical four-event-meet format. I get to go to Switzerland, compete and just have a good experience.”
The Swiss Cup will close out Wong’s busy 2024 gymnastics season, which included more than 20 collegiate and elite meets.
“I’ve never done a Swiss Cup meet,” Wong said. “This will be new and I’m looking forward to the experience.”
Although this competition will bring an end to Wong’s 2024 elite season, fans can expect to see her back in the Orange and Blue for her senior collegiate season. The first glimpses of the Gators’ routines can be seen during their third annual Gators Gymnastics Hype Night on Dec. 16 at 6:30 p.m.
