Li Li Leung Named President, CEO Of Indy-Based USA Gymnastics

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — USA Gymnastics announced Tuesday that Li Li Leung has been appointed president and chief executive officer following what they said was an extensive search conducted by the Board of Directors. According to a report from Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics, the search included surveying a wide range of members in the gymnastics community on the best qualifications and attributes of a successful candidate.

A former elite gymnast from Morris County, New Jersey, Li Li Leung will be fourth president in 23 months to lead the scandal-battered USA Gymnastics. Leung trained for most of her career at North Stars Gymnastics Academy in Boonton, NJ, USA Today reported.

She will be leaving her post as a vice president at the NBA, where she worked on international brand partnerships.

"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 a statement.

Leung will lead the organization in a precarious time: USA Gymnastics is currently facing desertification as the sport's national governing body by the US Olympic Committee following the Larry Nassar sex abuse scandal. Hundreds of gymnastic, including Olympic, world, national, and collegiate champions, came forward to say they were abused by the gymnastic's doctor, at USA Gymnastics sanctioned-events and locations. (Nassar is serving an effective life sentence for his abuse).

The Nassar abuse led to the ouster of the last three presidents, one of whom lasted less than a week. Current and former elite gymnasts, including the reigning World, Olympic, and National champion Simone Biles, have lambasted USA Gymnastics leadership for their lack of transparency in handling abuse revelations. USA Gymnastics is also facing hundreds of lawsuits from survivors, and has filed for bankruptcy.

"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," Leung said. "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."

As a former competitive gymnast, Leung said on a conference call with reporters she understands the culture of the sport, and said she will work to ensure athletes safety.

"Athlete safety will be paramount to what we do. When I say safety, I'm talking about emotional, physical and mental well-being. I'm talking about whole package," Leung said.

Leung represented the United States at the Junior Pan-American Games in 1998, and competed for the University of Michigan, where she won several NCAA Big 10 titles.

She said that experience gives her a unique insight into the culture of silence described by name current gymnasts, detailed in an investigation published by the law firm Ropes & Gray.

"There was section in there about gymnasts having suffered silently, gymnasts having sacrificed their childhood, gymnasts competing on broken bones. As I was reading that, I was actually feeling like I was reading my memoir," she said.

Leung will assume the role on March 8, and will be based at USA Gymnastics's Indianapolis headquarters.

Read More:

• Larry Nassar Molested Olympian McKayla Maroney 'Hundreds' Of Times
• USA Gymnastics Doctor Nassar Sentenced In Sex Abuse Of Girls
• USA Gymnastics CEO Kerry Perry Resigns Amid Nassar Scandal
• Olympic Gymnastics Ex-Doctor Pleads Guilty To Sex Charges
• Michigan State Failed Women, No Apology Suffices: An Alum's View

Katie Kausch also contributed to this piece.

Image: Wendy Barrows, via USA Gymnastics