After reaching notable milestones for the US both nationally and internationally, UCLA star Tiana Sumanasekara will now be doing the same for her parents’ native country, Sri Lanka.

The 18-year-old, a 2024 US Olympic alternate, shared the announcement on her Instagram on Sunday. And with heartfelt words, Sumanasekara summed up her feelings about this shocking change of nationality.

“Over the past 5 years, I have had the absolute privilege and honor to represent Team USA. And I could not be more grateful for the opportunities it has brought me,” she wrote. "I will forever cherish these moments. With that being said, I have decided to represent Sri Lanka.”

Being in the US Women’s national team since 2021, winning Pan American Games’ gold (2023), finishing 3^rd on balance beam at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, Sumanasekara has done it all. But representing her heritage carries a deeper significance.

“I could not be more proud and excited for this special opportunity,” she added. “Competing at the Olympics would be an absolute dream come true. And having the chance to honor my heritage by doing it for a country I hold so close to my heart makes it that much more special.”

However, this nationality switch had an even more distinct reason. But none of it meant she withdrew her heart from the country she had competed for so far.

Tiana Sumanasekara Elaborated on the Reason Behind This Switch

This April 2026, UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, home of the Bruins gymnastics program, hosted her Bollywood-themed floor exercise. While this reflected her desire to represent South Asia, there was more to it.

“Gymnastics is so underrepresented in Sri Lanka and South Asia as a whole, so I am beyond honored to help bring representation to such a beautiful and diverse part of the world,” she wrote. “As a Sri Lankan American, my heart will always be proud to belong to both countries.”

Sumanasekara, who helped the Bruins to the 2026 Big Ten Championship title and a fifth-place finish at the 2026 NCAA Gymnastics Championships, will continue to enjoy her campus life at UCLA. And surely, her peers will cheer her on even when she competes for Sri Lanka globally.

Can you name another gymnast who switched their nationality recently? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Deblina Roy