Tiana Sumanasekera represents Sri Lanka in pursuit of Olympic goals
The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 25, 2026, 4:24 PM
Last updated Jul 25, 2026
Tiana Sumanasekera, an 18-year-old gymnast, has swapped her representation from Team USA to Sri Lanka, aiming for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Recently, she participated in the Commonwealth Games but did not qualify for the balance beam final. Sumanasekera previously trained alongside elite gymnasts Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles at the World Champions Centre in Houston. Her move marks a significant step for Sri Lankan gymnastics, following Milka Gehani's historic competition at the Tokyo Olympics. Sumanasekera is expected to be a strong contender in upcoming international competitions.
- •Sumanasekera trained with Simone Biles in Houston.
- •She failed to reach the balance beam final at the Commonwealth Games.
- •Aims to compete in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
- •Her move symbolizes progress for Sri Lankan gymnastics.
- •Milka Gehani was the first Sri Lankan gymnast at the Olympics.
- 4:24 PMThe Guardian Sport — Sumanasekera chases Olympic dream after swapping Team USA for Sri Lanka
"Gymnast trained with Simone Biles in Houston Teenager fails to make balance beam final at Commonwealth Games Before the medals were decided, one of the loudest cheers inside the Glasgow International Arena on Saturday was reserved for a gymnast who would compete for less than two minutes. Two years ago, Tiana Sumanasekera was a United States Olympic alternate, training at the famed World Champions Centre in Houston alongside Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles. Now she is representing Sri Lanka – the country of her parents’ birth – with the aim of making the finals at Los Angeles in 2028. Sri Lankaachieved a milestone at the Tokyo Olympics when Milka Gehani became their first gymnast to compete at the Games. Sumanasekera’s arrival represents another significant step forward with the 18-year-old boasting the talent to challenge for world championship and Olympic finals on balance beam and floor exercise. Continue reading...
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