USA Gymnastics president Li Li Leung, who restored the federation to respectability after it had lost the trust of its athletes, sponsors and the general public in the wake of a horrific sex abuse scandal and its own missteps, is leaving.
Leung announced Thursday that she will step down at the end of the year. USA Gymnastics has already hired CAA Executive Search to find her replacement.
“The opportunity to lead USA Gymnastics has been the honor and privilege of a lifetime,” Leung said in a statement. “Thanks to the dedication of the entire gymnastics community, we are now in an incredible position as we turn our attention to the L.A. Olympic Games.
“The last several months have been a time of great reflection, and I know that now is the right time to pass the torch to the next leader, with the sport and organization thriving,” she added. “I wanted to ensure the board has the opportunity to conduct a thorough search and also give my successor a long runway into the 2028 Olympic Games.”
A former gymnast, Leung was a longtime NBA executive when USA Gymnastics hired her in early 2019. The job at the time seemed as thankless as it did impossible.
