Photo credit: Levi Jung-Ruivivar

Levi Jung-Ruivivar, the talented Olympic gymnast and Stanford student-athlete, recently took to Instagram to share a deeply personal and heartfelt message about her journey with an eating disorder. In a caption accompanying her post, she wrote, "Growth isn't always visible, but it's happening. Here's to embracing the journey."

Levi revealed that she has made the difficult decision to "redshirt" this season and take a brief leave of absence from Stanford during the winter quarter to focus on her recovery. She plans to return to school and training by the spring quarter.

In her written statement, Levi shared, "Hi everyone, I wanted to come on here today to share some deeply personal information. I have decided to redshirt this season and take a brief leave of absence from Stanford (just the winter quarter) to heal from an eating disorder I have been struggling with. I will return to school and training before the spring quarter starts."

She opened up about her history with eating disorders, explaining that the struggle began before her time at Stanford and even before training at the prestigious World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA). Despite living out her dreams at Stanford and thriving in both gymnastics and academics, Levi admitted that the disorder had started to sap her mental and physical energy, preventing her from fully enjoying the things she loves most.

Levi acknowledged the vulnerability of her decision to go public with her struggles, saying, "I had lots of trepidation sharing this information with the public as it is something I haven't told many of my closest friends. However, I think it is important for various reasons. First, I want to be extremely honest with everyone who is a part of my journey. Second, I believe by being transparent I can minimize the shame I feel around it. Third, I want to be a voice for anyone who may be struggling with an eating disorder—you are not alone."

She also shed light on the impact of eating disorders, especially on athletes. "For those of you who may not know a lot about eating disorders, there are many different kinds and the severity of them differs, however they truly negatively impact one's mind and body. As an elite athlete, I felt it was vital to stop the damage it was doing to my body and mind by seeking help."

Levi expressed immense gratitude for the unwavering support she's received from her family, friends, coaches, and Stanford's staff. "I am blown away at how many people have rallied behind me, and I will forever be grateful. I look forward to getting to relish all of this and more as I overcome my eating disorder."

By sharing her story, Levi hopes to inspire others facing similar challenges to seek help and know they are not alone. Her bravery and honesty serve as a reminder that even in the face of personal battles, growth is always possible—even if it's not immediately visible.