Lainey Gerber and Jack Doles
4 hours ago
PARIS (WOOD) — Two University of Michigan gymnasts helped the U.S. break a 16-year drought.
Fred Richard and Paul Juda on Monday helped the U.S. men’s gymnastics team win its first Olympic medal since the 2008 Games, bringing home bronze. The team totaled 257.793 points, 1.801 behind Japan, which took gold.
US men’s gymnastics surges to bronze, 1st medal since 2008
Richard made the most of his Olympic debut. He earned a 14.833 on a tricky high bar routine to lead the U.S. through its final rotations. He also led the team on the parallel bars with a 14.566 and floor routine with a 14.466.
Frederick Richard of Team United States competes in the floor exercise during the Artistic Gymnastics Men’s Team Final on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Frederick Richard of Team United States competes in the floor exercise during the Artistic Gymnastics Men’s Team Final on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
The USA’s Fred Richard on the floor during the men’s gymnastics team finals in Paris on July 29, 2024. 
Frederick Richard of Team United States competes on the high bar during the Artistic Gymnastics Men’s Team Final on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Frederick Richard of Team United States competes on the high bar during the Artistic Gymnastics Men’s Team Final on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The USA’s Fred Richard on the high bar during the men’s team gymnastics competition in Paris on July 29, 2024. 
The USA’s Fred Richard on the high bar during the men’s team gymnastics competition in Paris on July 29, 2024. 
The USA’s Fred Richard on the high bar during the men’s team gymnastics competition in Paris on July 29, 2024. 
Frederick Richard of United States on Parallel Bars during the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Team Final on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Frederick Richard of United States during Men’s Team Final on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
Paul Juda of Team United States celebrates after his routine on the vault during the Artistic Gymnastics Men’s Team Final on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Paul Juda of United States on Horizontal Bar during the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Team Final on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Paul Juda of Team United States celebrates his routine on the high bar during the Artistic Gymnastics Men’s Team Final on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Paul Juda of United States celebrating his performance on Horizontal Bar during the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Team Final on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
(L-R) Stephen Nedoroscik of United States, Frederick Richard of United States, Brody Malone of United States, Paul Juda of United States, Asher Hong of United States pose for a photo with their bronze medalduring the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Team Final on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Frederick Richard and Stephen Nedoroscik of Team United States celebrate during the medal ceremony for the Artistic Gymnastics Men’s Team Final on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
“Everything you put in your whole life,” Richard told WOOD TV8 as he celebrated his bronze medal with his team and loved ones. “I was thinking about my childhood the whole morning. When you’re competing, you’re thinking about your family in the crowd, your teammates on the sidelines. And it all pays off. It’s unreal. It’s crazy. And now I’m written in history. Our team’s written in history. That’s what’s powerful.”
Juda didn’t expect to make the Olympic team, but his energy was vital for the U.S. He started almost every rotation for the team and set the tone. He used his NCAA championship-winning floor moves to score a 14.200. He also got a 14.666 with a difficult vault and finished the day with a 13.900 on the pommel horse. After sticking his pommel horse dismount, Juda was holding back tears looking into the crowd.
“I’ve never really been able to have my parents at too many of my competitions,” Juda said. “To come here and there’s 50-plus people here for this awesome group, you can’t ask for anything better than that. Then to see my dad put (the medal) on, that one’s going forever.”
Watch: Prime time coverage of men’s team gymnastics final
The U.S. wasn’t the favorite to win gold, but it was expected to medal. After a few mishaps during the qualification round, it improved on almost every score Monday.
“I think it’s faith,” Richard said. “Even when Day 1 didn’t go well, I knew this was part of the process. Day 1’s not what mattered. It’s team final. We all believed in each other. We all were ready to give everything that day and we all gave everything, and it panned out perfectly.”
Richard and Juda aren’t done competing. They both qualified for the individual all-around final Wednesday. Until then, Richard was spending the rest of Monday celebrating his first Olympic medal.
“It feels unreal,” Richard said. “It feels amazing. It’s like you do it with more than just your muscles and your body. You do it with your heart. You do it with your soul and millions of other people’s souls. And it works out.”
—News 8 Sports Director Jack Doles contributed to this report from Paris.
Source link : https://www.woodtv.com/2024-olympics/its-faith-michigan-gymnasts-celebrate-first-mens-team-medal-since-2008/amp/
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Publish date : 2024-07-29 17:59:18
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