Sumanasekera was born to Rajitha and Ruwangi Sumanasekera in 2007. She started gymnastics in 2013.[1] She is of Sri Lankan descent.[2] Sumanasekera is believed to be the first gymnast of Sri Lankan descent to represent the U.S. in international competition.[3]
Junior gymnastics career
Sumanasekera competed at the 2021 Winter Cup where she placed seventh in the all-around.[4] She next competed at the American Classic where she placed eighth in the all-around but won gold on floor exercise and silver on vault.[5] Sumanasekera competed at the U.S. Classic where she finished tenth in the all-around.[6]
In November, Sumanasekera was selected to represent the United States at the inaugural Junior Pan American Games alongside Katelyn Jong, Madray Johnson, and Kailin Chio.[7] While there, she helped the United States place first as a team, and individually, she won gold on vault.[8]
Sumanasekera competed at the 2022 Winter Cup where she finished seventh in the all-around but first on vault and floor exercise. As a result, she was selected to compete at the upcoming DTB Pokal Team Challenge in Stuttgart alongside Myli Lew, Ella Kate Parker, Ella Murphy, and Hezly Rivera.[9] While there, Sumanasekera helped the team finish first and individually, she won gold on vault and silver on balance beam. In April, Sumanasekera competed at the 2022 City of Jesolo Trophy alongside Lew, Murphy, Madray Johnson, Zoey Molomo, and Gabby Van Frayen. They won the team event, and Sumanasekera won the all-around competition. During event finals, she picked up an additional three gold medals on vault, balance beam, and floor exercise.[10]
In July, Sumanasekera was selected to compete at the 2022 Pan American Championships alongside Molomo, Dulcy Caylor, and Alicia Zhou, where she helped the United States win the team gold and won an additional three medals in the vault, balance beam, and floor exercise event finals.[11][12]
Senior gymnastics career
2023
Sumanasekera turned senior in 2023. She made her senior debut at the 2023 Winter Cup where she only competed on uneven bars and balance beam. In April she was named to the team to compete at the Pan American Championships alongside Zoe Miller, Addison Fatta, Joscelyn Roberson, Nola Matthews and traveling replacement athlete Madray Johnson.[13] During the Pan American Championships she won gold on balance beam and individual all-around and silver on floor.[14] During the team final Sumanasekera contributed on vault, balance beam, and floor exercise towards the USA's first place finish.[15]
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