U. of I. gymnast’s video shines light on vaccine advocacy and his sport
Evan Manivong walked into the University of Minnesota’s Maturi Pavilion on March 22 with a plan.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign gymnast warmed up for a meet that day with a small card tucked into his jersey, a card that would make him go viral in the coming weeks.
Then, after he stuck the landing at the end of his vault routine and tied his career-highest score in the event, Manivong whipped out that card from his jersey. It was his COVID-19 vaccination card.
At first, there was confusion over what Manivong was holding. But he later explained on Twitter: “It’s my vaccination card ... go get vaccinated everyone!”
The video of his landing and the vaccine card reveal soon went viral. It has been viewed more than 3.7 million times on Twitter — eliciting praise on social media for the sophomore’s athletic ability and advocacy for people to get vaccinated.
Manivong declined to be interviewed this week, the school’s athletic department said, because he needed to focus on homework and practice.
But Illinois head gymnastics coach Justin Spring said the video has shone a spotlight not only on the vaccination efforts, but on a sport that usually only gains widespread attention during the Summer Olympics.
The attention comes during one of the “darkest times” in the sport, Spring said, with two Big Ten schools announcing they will cut their men’s gymnastics programs — Minnesota and the University of Iowa.
“It’s a platform to represent an underrepresented sport,” Spring said. “What is that going to do? I don’t know, but it’s at least great exposure for sport doesn’t get much exposure.”
Almost all the reactions to the video on social media have been positive.
One Twitter user called Manivong’s video “the best vaccine selfie hands down,” and others called Manivong a “legend” and “a true humanitarian.”
Being a student-athlete during the pandemic is “not as glamorous as you would think,” Spring said. Wearing a mask for hourslong bus rides and limiting exposure to people not on the team are just the start of the emotional toll Spring has watched the pandemic take on his team.
That is compounded by the looming fear of contracting the virus and having to sit out for weeks to quarantine, losing the strength and stamina built up throughout the season. The team wasn’t allowed to go home for Christmas or New Year’s because of the pandemic, Spring said.
When a local clinic with extra doses welcomed the team to get vaccinated, Spring said, nearly the whole team jumped at the opportunity.
“It’s a tremendous relief to have an added buffer of safety,” Spring said. “To help get our lives back to normal
One Twitter user called Manivong’s video “the best vaccine selfie hands down,” and others called Manivong a “legend” and “a true humanitarian.”
by getting everyone vaccinated is something Evan (Manivong) believes in.”
Manivong, who is from Kansas City, Missouri, is a passionate, soft-spoken team member who is extremely committed to the sport, according to his coach. Spring said he couldn’t imagine a “better person” than Manivong to go viral.
The team returns to Minnesota next Friday and Saturday for the NCAA Championships, where eyes will be on Manivong to see if he can stick the vault landing again in the same gym.
“I hope he does,” Spring said.