Asian American former gymnast takes over helm of USA Gymnastics

LI LI LEUNG

USA Gymnastics picked a former gymnast to put out the fires caused by the sex abuse scandal that has plagued the national organization for the past several years and threatens its very existence.

Li Li Leung will become president and CEO of USA Gymnastics which is mired in controversy after hundreds of female gymnasts have come forth with accusations of sexual and emotional abuse by Dr. Larry Nassar and coaches Bela and Marta Károlyi.

“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,” said Leung. “

"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 said.

“Li Li’s unique combination of business skills, management experience and passion for gymnastics make her perfectly suited to lead our organization at this important time in our history,” said Kathryn Carson, USA Gymnastics Board chair. “She brings strong leadership, organizational and communication skills from her over two-decade professional career in sports business and management. She also has deep roots in gymnastics, having competed at a high level before moving to collegiate gymnastics. We are thrilled to have Li Li as our next president and CEO, and the Board looks forward to supporting Li Li as she delivers her vision to transform and strengthen our organization and culture.”

Leung most recently served as a vice president at the National Basketball Association (NBA), where she has been responsible for building, leading, negotiating and managing key partner relationships around the world. She has also been involved with USA Basketball, the sport’s U.S. national governing body. Previously, she was a managing director at the global sports management firm Helios Partners, where she built from the ground up and managed their China and London offices. She also oversaw the firm’s global expansion strategy in emerging markets in Europe and Asia Pacific regions.

Leung began her gymnastics career at age 7. She competed in many USA Gymnastics events, was member of a U.S. junior national training team and represented the U.S. in the 1988 Junior Pan American Games. 

She was 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.

“Li Li’s dedication and strong interpersonal and management skills enable her to solve complex business issues and build collaborative partner relationships,” said Kerry Tatlock, senior vice president, global partnerships, at the NBA. “We appreciate her many contributions to the NBA and are confident that she will continue her success as CEO of USA Gymnastics.”

After wrapping up at the NBA and fulfilling other planned commitments, Leung will assume her role as CEO on March 8 and will be based at the USA Gymnastics headquarters in Indianapolis.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in psychology, at Michigan. Leung earned both of her advanced degrees – Master of Science in sports management and Master of Business Administration – at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

USA Gymnastics filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December in an effort to reach settlements in the dozens of sex-abuse lawsuits it faces in courts across the country from athletes who blame the group for failing to supervise Nassar, a team doctor accused of molesting them, according to HuffPost.

The 55-year-old Nassar worked at USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University for decades. He is serving an effective life sentence for child porn possession and molesting young women and girls under the guise of medical treatment.

Leung is the fourth person to hold the position of president and CEO in the last two years.

USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on the safety and well-being of their athletes, the organization’s highest priority. 

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