The confetti. The flashing lights. The adrenaline rush of hearing his name called as an Olympian. The charismatic 20-year-old who has made it his life’s mission to make men’s gymnastics relevant in the United States knew reaching the Olympics would be a vital step in the process. And now it’s here. Emphatically.
Fred Richard will lead the five-man U.S. team to Paris with a legitimate chance to medal after winning the Olympic trials. It’s like a new mountain in my life,
Richard said confidently, And I’m ready to climb it.
Richard’s spectacular all-around total of 170.500 at the trials barely edged out three-time national champion Brody Malone, who scored 170.300.
Richard’s Social Media Influence
Known as ‘Frederick Flips’ to his hundreds of thousands of followers, Richard has been promoting men’s gymnastics through creative viral videos. These often feature collaborations with athletes from other sports, further pushing this traditionally under-the-radar sport into the limelight.
Bronze Medalists Look Forward to Paris
Nine months after earning bronze at the 2023 world championships—the men’s program’s first major international medal in nearly a decade—Richard and his teammates believe they are capable of even more this summer in Paris.
Strategic Overhaul Since Tokyo
The Americans have worked to close the performance gap with China and Japan by revamping their scoring system and introducing bonus points for more challenging skills. This gap, which was six points at Tokyo, will shrink to just two at Paris qualifiers, giving them a genuine chance at medaling.
Malone’s Remarkable Comeback
The team includes Brody Malone, 24, whose career almost ended due to a severe knee injury in March 2023. Brett McClure highlighted his recovery: Three surgeries, 15 months, and countless hours of physical therapy later…
. Despite not performing a full floor routine until May, Malone won the national title earlier this month and narrowly missed topping Richard at trials.
A Young and Talented Team
The team features young talents like Asher Hong and Paul Juda, who broke down in emotion after making the team. Stephen Nedoroscik rounds out the core roster alongside veterans like Malone.
Aiming Beyond Bronze
The team’s improved routines and drive make them hopeful for going beyond bronze this summer. Richard stated, I want to be a medalist Olympian; that’s my personality.
Follow Us
