INDIANAPOLIS — USA Gymnastics announced that Li Li Leung has been appointed president and CEO of the organization. Leung served as vice president of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Leung will assume her role as president and CEO on March 8 after completing her duties with the NBA and will be based at the USA Gymnastics headquarters in Indianapolis.
“I am honored to be the next CEO of USA Gymnastics and to lead an organization that plays an important role in a sport that I care deeply about and had so much positive influence on my life,” Leung said in the statement released Feb. 19 by USA Gymnastics. “Like everyone, I was upset and angry to learn about the abuse and the institutions that let the athletes down. I admire the courage and strength of the survivors, and I will make it a priority to see that their claims are resolved. I look forward to collaborating with the entire gymnastics community to create further change going forward, which requires that we implement important initiatives to strengthen athlete health and safety and build a clear and inclusive plan for the future. For me, this is much more than a job: it is a personal calling, for which I stand ready to answer.”
Leung started competing in gymnastics at the age of 7 and was a member of a U.S. junior national training team representing the U.S. in the 1988 Junior Pan American Games. She was also a member of the University of Michigan gymnastics team, which won several Big 10 titles and competed in the NCAA Championships during her four years on the team. She was a volunteer assistant gymnastics coach while earning two master’s degrees at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
In a message to the USA Gymnastics community, the Leung said, “As we all know, USA Gymnastics is at a critical turning point, and we now have the opportunity to look forward and to move forward. I have the experience, commitment, determination, and perspective to do what it takes to rebuild the organization and I want to help lead this transformation, to rebuild the community’s trust in credibility of USA Gymnastics. Like many gymnasts’ families, my family made sacrifices for the sport. My parents moved our home so my sister and I could be closer to training facilities. I trained as an elite gymnast and competed in many USA Gymnastics events. I was a member of the U.S. junior national training team and even had the opportunity to represent the USA at the 1988 Junior Pan American Games.”
Leung said she started her career in sports management, which she said her experiences give her the perspective and skills to handle this role.
“My priorities, when I first start will be to listen and learn from current and former athletes, coaches, club owners, meet directors, judges and the entire community by traveling around the country to get to know as many people as possible. I also plan to build and experienced management team who can help create and implement a new vision for USA Gymnastics that puts athletes first.”
In her letter to members, Leung asks that she and the organization be judged on its actions moving forward. “We will learn from the past and look to the future to heal and rebuild.”
