For the first time in her life, Leanne Wong is watching gymnastics from the sidelines.
Instead of focusing on every detail of her own routine, the graduate student now helps improve performance and build confidence within Florida’s 2026 gymnastics team as a student assistant coach.
“I was always so focused on what I needed to do,” Wong said. “Now I get to sit back and watch, and I’m like ‘Wow, that was an amazing podium training.’”
During the 2026 season, Wong stepped into the new role as a student assistant coach after competing for Florida gymnastics for four years. The 22-year-old says she decided to take a gap year after graduation to continue helping the program.
Now pursuing a master's degree in health education and behavior while completing prerequisites for medical school, Wong said she felt the shift in her lifestyle.
“It’s different ... being on campus, going to school, but not being on the team,” Wong said. “It’s cool to see everything from a different perspective.”
Wong’s transition came as Florida found its rhythm in the 2026 season and improved ahead of the postseason competition. The team most recently won the SEC championship, making it three titles during Wong’s time in the program.
Wong's background makes her a natural fit for the position. Coming into the role as assistant coach, she carries one of the most decorated careers in the history of the sport.
Wong is one of only 15 gymnasts in NCAA history to achieve the ‘Gym Slam,’ scoring a perfect 10.0 on every single event. In her time as a Gator, she helped lead Florida to multiple SEC titles and earned several All-America honors. Beyond her collegiate career, Wong was an alternate for both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Finding success on the mat has allowed Wong to give meaningful coaching to the new gymnastics roster.
“I’ve kind of seen myself as a mentor for the younger ones,” Wong said. “It’s still crazy to think people are looking up to me.”
Through the victories and the hardships, Wong has been there to help guide the team. The Kansas native says she likes to give technical corrections that can help improve each athlete's performance.
Training with the team every day, Wong said the one thing every gymnast must work on is their mental strength.
“Gymnastics is so mentally challenging,” she said. Wong works with the team to contain their nerves in big moments on the mat and remain optimistic no matter the outcome of the meet.
Wong has also trained her mind to handle multitasking, as the Gator handles several commitments outside of her academics and coaching. Between studying and coaching, Wong said she approaches each day by focusing on what's directly in front of her.
She recently passed her Florida real estate exam on her first attempt, adding a new title to her already extensive list of accomplishments.
This is just the beginning of Wong’s professional career, as she prepares to enter medical school in the near future. Through coaching as a student assistant, the Gator couldn't show more commitment to Florida’s program. She continues to build a lasting legacy in gymnastics and contribute to the program, only this time, from the sidelines.
Contact Sofia Alamo at salamo@alligator.org. Follow her on X @alamosofiaa.
Sofia Alamo is a Sports Journalism freshman at UF and the university’s Women’s Tennis beat reporter. Her favorite sports are soccer and tennis, and she aspires to be a sports broadcaster in the future.
