The Florida Gators opened their 2025 NCAA gymnastics season at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center and showed exactly why they were third in the preseason ranking! They registered a big quad meet win over Nebraska, Michigan State, and Northern Illinois, with standout performances from gymnasts like Leanne Wong. Wong? Yes, she was on fire, posting three incredible 9.950s on bars, beam, and floor and taking her all-around total to 39.725, which now ties LSU’s Aleah Finnegan for the highest score in the nation this season.

But naturally, for Leanne Wong, this win was more than just a great start to the season. It seemed more like an emotional milestone. As she enters her final year with the Gators, every routine might feel extra special. After all, over the years, the team has become her second family—a place where she’s felt completely embraced, not just as a gymnast but as a person. So what is the heritage that she brings to the Gators? Here’s everything you need to know about the gymnast’s ethnicity and family.

What is Leanne Wong’s ethnicity?

Leanne Wong is a Chinese American who shared that cultural bond with another fellow Gator gymnast, Morgan Hurd. Leanne Wong was born to Marco Wong and Bee Ding, both of whom are accomplished research scientists, and grew up in a close-knit family alongside her two younger brothers, Michael and Brendan. The family is originally from Kansas State, which is Wong’s hometown. In fact, out of more than 500 student-athletes at the University of Florida, only 16 are Asian, yet Wong’s presence on the team is significant. And in her personal life in Florida, she, Hurd, and their roommate, Victoria Nguyen—a Vietnamese American gymnast—have created a tight-knit support system too.

In fact, Nguyen shared that their families often visit, bringing traditional Asian dishes to their dorm, which is a welcome treat since Gainesville doesn’t offer many Asian food options. It’s clear that Wong stays deeply connected to her roots, even while excelling at the highest levels of collegiate gymnastics. But her heritage is just one part of what makes her unique.

Beyond that, Leanne Wong is a standout athlete and an entrepreneur. Her business, Leanne Wong Bowtique, has been thriving since its launch in December 2021, creating custom gymnastics bows right out of her dorm room. In fact, this is something that her mother helps her with. And not just this, her family has been supportive of every dream that she has ever dreamt of, mainly gymnastics.

Going down the memory lane, Leanne often credits her family’s unwavering support for helping her thrive in such a challenging sport. A few years back, she’d confessed, “My family has definitely been really supportive throughout my whole gymnastics career, since this sport is just so demanding.” She continued to call her family the pillar of her existence. “Actually, all four of my family members—my parents and my two younger brothers—they used to go to every single one of my meets. And then I think the first meet that they didn’t go to was probably, I would say, the Olympics [due to COVID regulations],” she said. Clearly, her family has always been her biggest cheer squad!

What is Leanne Wong’s religion?

In terms of religion, Leanne Wong practices Catholicism. Wong is a parishioner at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Hightstown, New Jersey. She is not only practicing but also completing her sacraments from Baptism to Confirmation. As per St. Anthony, a 21-year-old Wong is also a member of the Girl Scouts of Central & Southern New Jersey. At present, she is a Cadette aiming for the Silver Award, the top honor available to Girl Scout Cadettes, and also helps other children with her knowledge.