Newly formed Lao Gymnastics Federation joins the Asian Gymnastics Union

Image Credit: Lao Gymnastics Federation on Facebook, 2022

December 14, 2022 - In what appears to be a newly formed sporting body of perhaps only a year old, the Lao Gymnastics Federation (LGF) has  appeared on the international scene along with its Facebook and Instagram pages.

On September 1, 2022, the Asian Gymnastics Union (AGU) welcomed Laos into the gymnastics family in an official 3-days visit from AGU President Abdulrahman Al-Shathri and International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) President Watanabe.

Image credit:  Asian Gymnastics Union, 2022

This is the first step to being able to have Lao gymnasts compete and represent Laos at official international competitions recognized by the FIG.  This of course includes the Asian Gymnastics Championships, Gymnastics World Championships and the Olympic Games.

Laos has some competitive gymnasts, namely in rhythmic gymnastics.  The hope is that the sport will grow and develop within the country and eventually have more Lao athletes in several gymnastics related sports including artistic gymnastics. 

At the Tokyo Olympic Games last year, representing Team USA, Lao-American female gymnast Sunisa Lee became the first person of Lao descent to win medals at the Olympics when she won medals in every color in women's artistic gymnastics - including the gold in the individual all-around competition, silver in the team competition, and bronze on the uneven bars event final.

Image Credit;  Getty Images, 2022