1. Early Life
1.1. Family Background and Upbringing
Danell Johan Leyva Gonzalez was born on October 30, 1991, in Cárdenas, Cuba. His mother, Maria Gonzalez, and his stepfather and coach, Yin Alvarez, were both accomplished members of Cuba's national gymnastics team. Alvarez is widely recognized for his passionate and demonstrative sideline presence during Leyva's routines, often accompanying every element of his performances. Leyva's biological father, Johan Leyva, resides in Spain. Growing up, Leyva was immersed in the world of gymnastics due to his parents' extensive involvement in the sport.
1.2. Defection to the United States
When Leyva was two years old, his mother, Maria Gonzalez, and he defected from Cuba to Miami, Florida, United States. Yin Alvarez, who would later become Leyva's stepfather, also defected to the United States by swimming across the Rio Grande while his team was competing in Mexico. Several years after settling in Miami, Alvarez and Gonzalez established their own gymnastics gym. They married in 2001, solidifying their family and professional partnership within the gymnastics community in Miami.
2. Gymnastics Career
Danell Leyva's gymnastics career spanned from his junior competitive years to multiple Olympic appearances and world championship victories, ultimately culminating in his retirement from the sport.
2.1. Junior Career (2006-2008)
Leyva began his competitive journey at the Winter Cup in 2006. That same year, he competed in the junior division of the USA Gymnastics National Championships, where he secured the all-around title. He also earned gold medals on the floor exercise and horizontal bar, and tied for a silver medal on the parallel bars.
In 2008, at the Junior National Championships, Leyva continued his success, winning titles in the all-around, horizontal bar, parallel bars, and pommel horse. His international junior achievements also include winning the horizontal bar championship at the 2008 Pan American Gymnastics Championships held in Rosario, Argentina. At this event, he also claimed silver medals on the pommel horse and parallel bars. He was subsequently selected for the 2008 Pacific Rim Championships team, competing in San Jose, California. The United States team won gold at this event, and Leyva individually earned a gold medal in the all-around and a bronze medal on parallel bars in the junior division finals.
2.2. Senior Career Beginnings (2009-2011)
In 2009, at the age of 17, Leyva became the youngest member of the US senior national team. At the National Championships that year, he won a gold medal on the horizontal bar and a silver medal on the parallel bars. His talent led to his selection as one of four US male gymnasts to compete at the 2009 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in London. He successfully qualified for the horizontal bar final, where he ultimately placed fourth.
The following year, after securing medals in his strongest events, the horizontal bar and parallel bars, at the Winter Cup, Leyva was chosen for the men's team to compete at the 2010 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships in Melbourne, Australia. There, he captured individual gold titles on both the horizontal bar and parallel bars, and also earned a bronze medal on the still rings. He additionally qualified for the all-around and pommel horse finals, finishing seventh in both. In the summer of 2010, at the 2010 U.S. National Gymnastics Championships, he again excelled, becoming the US gold medalist on the parallel bars and the all-around silver medalist. He was then selected for the team to compete at the 2010 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam. Leyva contributed to the team's fourth-place finish and qualified for the horizontal bar final, where he placed fifth.
The year 2011 marked a significant turning point in Leyva's senior career. At the 2011 U.S. National Gymnastics Championships, he surpassed reigning national champion and world bronze medalist Jonathan Horton in the all-around, securing his first senior-level all-around US National Championship. He also claimed national titles on both the parallel bars and horizontal bar. Leyva was subsequently chosen as one of the key anchors for the US team at the 2011 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Tokyo. The team achieved a bronze medal, marking the first time the US men's team had won medals at the World Championships since 2003. Leyva qualified for the all-around final, but a mishap on his final rotation saw his chin collide with the horizontal bar, preventing him from completing his routine and resulting in a 24th-place finish. Despite this setback, he rebounded strongly in the individual event finals, earning a gold medal on the parallel bars.
2.3. 2012 London Olympics
In 2012, Leyva continued his strong performance leading up to the Olympics. He won medals in several events at the Winter Cup and went on to win the American Cup in New York City. At the National Championships in St. Louis, he finished second in the all-around, behind John Orozco, but successfully defended his national titles on the parallel bars and horizontal bar.
Leyva then competed in the Olympic Trials in San Jose, California. His combined scores from the Visa Championships and the two days of trials placed him first overall, automatically securing his spot on the US Olympic Team alongside John Orozco, who finished second. The team was later completed by Jonathan Horton, Sam Mikulak, and Jake Dalton, with Alex Naddour, Steven Legendre, and Chris Brooks named as alternates. At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Danell Leyva earned the bronze medal in the highly competitive individual all-around event, a significant achievement for the US men's gymnastics team.
2.4. 2016 Rio Olympics and Retirement
Leyva's participation in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro came unexpectedly. He was initially named as an alternate for the US Olympic Team. However, in July 2016, he was added to the team following the withdrawal of John Orozco due to an ACL injury.
On August 6, 2016, the US men's team qualified for the team final in second place. Leyva individually qualified for the event finals in both parallel bars and horizontal bar. In the team final, Leyva contributed scores on the pommel horse, parallel bars, and horizontal bar. Despite a fall on the horizontal bar, the team finished in fifth place. On August 16, Leyva delivered outstanding performances in the individual event finals. He won a silver medal in the Olympic men's parallel bar final with a score of 15.900. Approximately 90 minutes later, he secured another silver medal in the horizontal bar final, scoring 15.500. Despite his initial status as an alternate, Leyva was the only member of the US men's gymnastics team to earn two medals at the Rio Olympics, contributing significantly to the team's total of three medals, which also included Alex Naddour's bronze on the pommel horse. Following the 2016 Olympic Games, Danell Leyva retired from competitive gymnastics.
3. Personal Life and Post-Gymnastics Activities
Beyond his accomplishments in competitive gymnastics, Danell Leyva's personal life includes his family relationships, significant sponsorship deals, and his successful pivot to a career in acting and media after retirement.
3.1. Family and Sponsorships
Danell Leyva has a sister named Dayanis Mesa, who is a television host. During his highly successful athletic career, Leyva secured significant endorsements. In 2013, he signed a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Adidas Gymnastics. This partnership placed him alongside other prominent US Olympic Team members such as Jake Dalton, McKayla Maroney, and Jordyn Wieber, who were also sponsored by Adidas.
3.2. Transition to Acting and Media Career
After concluding his competitive gymnastics career, Leyva embarked on a new path, pursuing an acting and media career. Shortly after the 2016 Rio Olympics, he relocated from Miami to Los Angeles to fully dedicate himself to this transition, enrolling in acting classes to hone his craft. By mid-2017, his efforts had already yielded results: he had filmed two television advertisements, made an appearance on a Nickelodeon show, and worked as a choreography consultant for the popular television series Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Further demonstrating his commitment to his new career, Leyva purchased a production company, which he renamed "Parallel Entertainment," reflecting his specialization in gymnastics. In 2019, Leyva also competed as a contestant on the popular obstacle course competition show American Ninja Warrior.
3.3. Public Identity and Activism
On October 11, 2020, coinciding with National Coming Out Day, Danell Leyva publicly revealed via Twitter that he identifies as both bisexual and pansexual. This announcement held significant social importance, particularly within and beyond the athletic community, contributing to greater visibility and representation for LGBTQ+ athletes.
4. Legacy and Impact
Danell Leyva's legacy is marked by his significant athletic achievements and his role as a prominent public figure. As the second most decorated American male gymnast in combined Olympic and World Championships medals, with a total of eight, he stands as a testament to consistent excellence in his sport. His specialization in parallel bars and horizontal bar, coupled with his unique signature move, highlights his innovative approach and mastery on these apparatuses. Beyond his athletic prowess, Leyva's decision to publicly come out as bisexual and pansexual has had a positive impact, fostering greater inclusivity and representation for the LGBTQ+ community within the world of sports and society at large. His journey from an Olympic medalist to an actor and advocate exemplifies a multifaceted public identity, making him a lasting figure in both sports and social discourse.