At the U.S. Championships in Phoenix, 22-year-old gymnast Frederick Richard won the men's all-around title, becoming the second Black gymnast to claim this title. This was reported by infohub.kz.
Richard is known for his social media activity, but his main goal is to introduce gymnastics to a new audience. He understands that making the sport look fun is essential for this. However, as he says, winning is an important indicator that proves the process is working.
On the final day, Richard performed six polished routines, finishing more than two points ahead of 2020 Olympian Shane Wiskus and 19-year-old Danila Leykin. After securing the victory, he flashed the "No. 1" sign to the crowd and posed for a selfie on the medal stand.
Richard's outfit also drew attention. Instead of traditional stirrup pants, he wore shorts with white compression leggings underneath, which went against the rules. He received a 0.3 neutral deduction each time, but this did not deter him from continuing his style choice. He said he would keep doing it.
Richard emphasized that during competition, staying in your zone is what matters, and his clothing choice is a way to start conversations. He is confident he can combine his fun, charismatic personality with being a champion.
Last year, Richard missed out on the world championships and national team selection. But now he has begun preparations for the Olympics in Los Angeles and aims to be a team leader. He considers himself entering "veteran territory."
In October, Richard will test his level at the world championships in the Netherlands. He knows he needs to increase the difficulty of his routines to become a medal contender in Los Angeles. He is ready to keep winning and pushing himself to improve.