Michigan’s Paul Juda was on the fringe entering the United States men’s gymnastics Olympic trials June 27 and 29 in Minneapolis.
The Deerfield, Illinois native picked a good time to have the meet of his life. He accomplished what he set out to do during the two-day event with zero falls and hitting all his routines. Juda finished fourth in the all-round and top-five in four events: floor (second), pommel horse (third), vault (fourth), and high bar (fifth). His Olympic dream was now left in the hands of the selection committee, who used an algorithm based on scores from the U.S. Championships and Olympic trials to determine the five members and two alternates who will represent the U.S. in Paris July 26-Aug. 11.
Juda’s Michigan teammate, Fred Richard, was the only one among the 20 competitors who didn’t have to endure the tense moments waiting inside Target Center for the committee’s decision because he earned an automatic qualifying spot by finishing first in the all-around and top-three in three events.
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“My heart was out of my chest,” Juda said last week at Newt Loken Training Center in Ann Arbor. “I literally could not stand still. I knew that there was a chance. Like I’ve said before, like, ‘Yeah, there’s something on the line here. It’s your dream.’ I knew I put myself in a good position, but, oh my gosh, my heart’s pounding out of my chest like I feel my blood coursing through my veins.”
Juda, who turned 23 this month, had the shortest wait among the competitors as his name was announced first. On the NBC Sports broadcast, he broke down in tears after being announced as an Olympian to the crowd inside Target Center.
“All the emotions hit me right away,” he said. “I realized in that one fraction of a second when they call out your name, your dream is forever accomplished. The quote I’ve been remembering and reminding myself of, ‘Once an Olympian, always an Olympian.’ It’s a dream come true. I wish I could say I came in there really cool and knowing that I had it and was for sure gonna be the one (to make it) but when they called out my name, it made it that much more special.”
Juda completed a decorated college career in 2024, winning the NCAA title in floor exercise. He was the Big Ten Gymnast of the Year in 2021 and 2022 and the NCAA all-around and vault champion in 2022.
But there also were low points. He redshirted in 2023, missing the season because of injury. But the nadir came in U.S. Olympic trials in 2021, when he did not make the team or receive an alternate spot.
Juda made sure to take a different approach this time around and also is a more seasoned gymnast. He helped USA earn bronze at the 2023 World Championships – the country’s first team medal since 2014 – and reached the finals in vault and high bar.
“In 2021, I found I was just so focused on making it or missing the team,” Juda said. “I kind of put so much emphasis on becoming an Olympian that year that I didn’t even get to enjoy the stage. At one point in the meet I went, ‘Man, I remember when I used to do this just for fun.’ And (coach Jordan Gaarenstroom) said to me one day in the meet, ‘You still do it for fun. It should still be for fun.’
“I don’t think I really understood that statement then. This year, 100%, I tried to soak up every moment, every single minute I had with the crowd. Every time I heard my name, every single person that I hugged or asked for an autograph or what have you, man, those are the moments I’m gonna remember. The competition was great, but it took so much stress off to know that I’m just having out there living the dream.”
Making the team was just the first step, though. Juda and Richard don’t want to return to Ann Arbor empty-handed. USA hasn’t won a men’s gymnastics medal since 2008 and hasn’t claimed gold since 2008. Does that add more pressure to this year’s group?
“Probably,” Juda said. “I’d be lying if I said I don’t feel it, but we’ve got the support system beyond measure. We’ve got some of the best guys in the world on the team and we know that we were selected for a purpose – to represent our country and the highest honor possible.”
Source link : https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2024/07/michigan-gymnast-reaches-new-heights-by-making-usa-olympic-team.html?outputType=amp
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Publish date : 2024-07-16 07:03:00
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