Fil-Am gymnast Emma Malabuyo. Handout

Team Philippines has added more Pinay power heading into the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Just last month, UCLA junior Emma Malabuyo earned an Olympic berth thanks to her third place finish at the Asian Championships in Uzbekistan. 

She is the third Filipino-American woman to represent the Philippines in this year's Summer Games.

The Philippines has not sent a female gymnast to the Games since the 1964 Olympics. Now, the country has three: Malabuyo, national champion Aleah Finnegan of Louisiana State University, and Stanford commit Levi Jung Ruivivar.

READ: Emma Malabuyo thrilled to qualify and represent the Philippines at Paris Olympics

"I think it’s so cool, so awesome. I also think it’s so inspiring to present and future generations but just being able to represent the Philippines and not only myself but having two other women alongside me, I mean it is such a big accomplishment," Malabuyo said of ending the Philippines' Olympic drought in women's artistic gymnastics. 

"We just want to bring so much pride and joy to everyone in the Philippines," she added.

Malabuyo was an alternate for Team USA in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021. She admits that it feels different to be representing the Philippines.

"I think in 2020, I felt just a little bit more isolated just because I was training alone, but I think now that I’m with the Philippines, I’m able to kind of also express myself and really enjoy my gymnastics and also just being mature and older too," she said.

"Being able to be myself out there on the floor, and having that support just brings that light outside of me and it just feels like a big family so it makes me enjoy all those moments with all those people so I think that’s the main difference," she added.

UCLA has produced a number of high profile Filipina gymnasts, including 1984 Olympian Gigi Zosa who represented Canada. Fil-Am Kyla Ross, a gold medalist in London in 2012, would also go on to compete for UCLA, winning several national championships.

Malabuyo’s current Filipina-Canadian teammate Brooklyn Moors represented Canada in the 2020 Olympics. 

Malabuyo, whose grandparents migrated from Manila to the San Francisco Bay Area, is the first Bruin Gymnast to represent the Philippines, and is also UCLA head coach Janelle McDonald's first Olympian. 

Fil-Am gymnast Emma Malabuyo in action for UCLA. Handout/UCLA Athletics

McDonald has been traveling with Malabuyo and will continue to be with her throughout the Olympic journey and even possibly to the Philippines. 

READ: Olympic-bound Filipino athletes to receive cash incentives ahead of Paris Games

READ: POC chief sees more Pinoy athletes qualifying for Paris Games

"It’s really special and I think going on this trip with Emma to the Asian championships, my biggest takeaway is what a family the team is and not just the athletes, but the coaches and delegation as a whole they welcomed me with open arms and are just so supportive and they’re celebrating this team every step of the way," said McDonald.

"The way they supported and celebrated Emma was just second to none and the pride they have to have these athletes being able to represent the Philippines in the Olympic Games it really makes everybody feel special to be a part of it and that’s something I’d like to continue being a part of with Emma and to continue celebrating this part of history with their gymnasts and future gymnasts to come."

Malabuyo has since returned to Los Angeles, where she is training for the Paris Games.

So far, 15 athletes have qualified to represent the Philippines in the Olympics.

RELATED VIDEO: