Frederick Richard and Paul Juda Take It All In During the Men's ...

“After vault I just quickly changed my attitude,” said Juda. “I thought back to all of the non-number goals that I always try and set for myself, one of them being try hard all the time. Even at the elite level, only we know when we go to bed if we gave it our all that day. So, it was trying hard no matter what and having fun. And then be proud of the gymnastics that I was doing because at some point, I'm going to watch back the Olympics and I want to be like ‘Okay, that was awesome.’”

The 23-year-old making the all-around final was a bit of a surprise, as Frederick and veteran Brody Malone were the heavy favorites to represent the U.S. after a 1-2 finish at the Olympic Team Trials for gymnastics in June. But after several mistakes in qualifying knocked Malone out of contention, Juda found himself in Wednesday night’s final along side his Michigan teammate.

“I can only think about all the hard times I went through,” said Juda. “The brutal heartbreak of 2021 and not making it, and then just pushing myself every day in the gym. It's always worth it. It's hard in the moment because there's always something that you could be doing better. But you come to something like this and its all worth it.”

While both Richard and Juda were happy with their accomplishments in the team competition, they felt this all-around final did not reflect the level that USA Gymnastics has established in recent years. Richard, who took all-around bronze at the 2023 World Championships, said today’s finish is nowhere near his capability.

“Fifteenth place means nothing to me,” said Richard. “Yes, it's amazing and we’re at the biggest competition. But I know I have way more in me, the world knows I have way more in me. I’m grateful I get to leave healthy, and I got to experience some fun gymnastics. But I’m always aiming for (number) one.”

Both competitors, along with the rest of the team, have been open about their quest to bring even more to the table at Los Angeles in 2028. While Wednesday’s results may not have been what the Americans wanted, the outcome only makes them hungrier for what’s to come.

“It makes me more excited for the future having been through this,” said Richard. “A perfect story is kind of boring.”

Hanna Barton is writing for Team USA as a graduate student in the Sports Capital Journalism Program at Indiana University Indianapolis.