Luisa Blanco

Luisa Fernanda Blanco Saavedra (born November 18, 2001) is a Colombian-American artistic gymnast. She competes for the Alabama Crimson Tide gymnastic team and is the 2021 NCAA Champion on the balance beam. She will represent Colombia at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Luisa Blanco
Full nameLuisa Fernanda Blanco Saavedra
Country represented Colombia
Former countries represented United States
Born (2001-11-18) November 18, 2001
Los Angeles, California
HometownDallas, Texas
Height5 ft 2 in (157 cm)[1]
DisciplineWomen's artistic gymnastics
Years on national team2023 - present (COL)
ClubMidwest Gymnastics Center
College teamAlabama Crimson Tide (2020 - present)
Head coach(es)Jess Graba
Former coach(es)Yevgeny Marchenko
Medal record
Representing Alabama Crimson Tide
NCAA Championships
Gold medal – first place2021 Fort WorthBalance beam
Silver medal – second place2021 Fort WorthAll-around
Silver medal – second place2023 Fort WorthUneven bars
Bronze medal – third place2021 Fort WorthUneven bars

Early life

Blanco was born on November 18, 2001, in Los Angeles, California.[2] Her parents, Sandra Saavedra and Mario Blanco, are immigrants from Colombia.[1][3]

Gymnastics career

2017-2019: Elite

Blanco made her elite debut at the 2017 WOGA Classic. She did not compete in the all-around, but she posted the highest score of the competition on the balance beam, and she won silver with the WOGA team.[4] Then at the 2017 U.S. Classic, she tied with Kalyany Steele for the all-around bronze medal behind Alyona Shchennikova and Abby Paulson.[5] She then finished 12th all-around at the 2017 U.S. Championships.[6]

Blanco finished ninth all-around at the 2018 WOGA Classic and had the third-highest score on the balance beam.[7] Then at the International Gymnix in Montreal, she finished ninth in the all-around and on uneven bars and eighth on balance beam.[8] She also finished ninth all-around at the 2018 U.S. Classic.[9] She then finished 17th all-around at the 2018 U.S. Championships.[10] At the 2019 WOGA Classic, she competed on the uneven bars where she had the highest score of the meet and on the balance beam where she finished second behind Sloane Blakely.[11]

2020-2023: NCAA

Blanco graduated from Lebanon Trail High School one semester early and joined the Alabama Crimson Tide gymnastic team in January 2020.[12]

2023: Elite return

In 2023, Blanco announced that she was returning to elite gymnastics and switching nationalities to represent Colombia. She began training at Midwest Gymnastics Center with Sunisa Lee's coach, Jess Graba.[3] She won the all-around and uneven bars titles at the 2023 Colombian Championships.[13] She was selected to represent Colombia at the 2023 Pan American Games where she helped the Colombian team place fifth.[14] Individually, Blanco qualified for the all-around final where she finished eighth with a total score of 50.099.[15] As the highest-placing athlete who was eligible for an Olympic berth, Blanco qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games.[16][17]

References
  1. "Luisa Blanco". Alabama Crimson Tide. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  2. "Blanco Luisa". International Gymnastics Federation. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  3. Sandmaier, Christy (8 June 2023). "Alabama star Luisa Blanco Announces Plans to Compete for Colombia". Inside Gymnastics Magazine. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  4. Hopkins, Lauren (20 February 2017). "2017 WOGA Classic Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  5. "2017 U.S. Classic Meet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. 29 July 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  6. "2017 P&G Championships - Women Day 2 Meet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. 20 August 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  7. Hopkins, Lauren (18 February 2018). "2018 WOGA Classic Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  8. Hopkins, Lauren (11 March 2018). "2018 International Gymnix Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  9. "2018 GK U.S. Classic Meet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. 29 July 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  10. "2018 U.S. Championships - Women Day 2 Meet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  11. Hopkins, Lauren (11 February 2019). "2019 WOGA Classic Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  12. "Luisa Blanco and Ella Burgess Sign with Alabama Gymnastics and Will Join the Crimson Tide in January". Alabama Crimson Tide. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  13. Hopkins, Lauren (17 July 2023). "2023 2nd Colombian Championships Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  14. "XIX Juegos Panamericanos Santiago 2023 Women's Artistic Gymnastics Teams" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. Santiago 2023. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  15. "XIX Juegos Panamericanos Santiago 2023 Women's Artistic Gymnastics All-Around Final" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. Santiago 2023. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  16. "Luisa Blanco Earns Olympic Berth as Part of Team Colombia". Alabama Crimson Tide. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  17. Walsh, Christopher (23 October 2023). "Alabama Gymnast Luisa Blanco Earns Spot in Summer Olympics". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
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