The moment everyone was waiting for. The Michigan Wolverines are finally the National Champions! The 2025 NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championships, hosted by Michigan at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor from April 18-19, was nothing short of unforgettable. In front of their home crowd, the Wolverines secured the victory, edging out Stanford by less than two-tenths. But it was just enough to break the six-peat dreams of the Cardinal. With the leadership of Olympic bronze medalists Fred Richard and Paul Juda, Michigan made history. But one particular gymnast stole the show!

The scores were a rollercoaster, but it was Paul Juda’s vault score that caught everybody’s eyes. Before the vault scores were revealed, Stanford had posted a solid 59.899 on bars in their last rotation. Michigan’s vault scores were the final piece of the puzzle, and as the numbers flashed across the screen, the crowd held their breath. Solomi Chiosi led off with a 13.833, followed by Fred Richard and David Wolma, both posting 14.400. But it was Juda’s 13.966 that sealed the win and brought Michigan’s total to 56.599

As the final score sank in, it was impossible to hold back the emotion. When Paul saw his name flash on the scoreboard, the weight of the moment hit him hard. After this, Paul Juda won a national championship. It was his first and last national championship as a student athlete. Seeing this, tears started falling as he realized what it meant for him and his team. The entire gym—athletes, coaches, and fans—was swept up in the emotion.

Social media exploded with tributes, with many sharing how the raw, heartfelt moment of Paul’s tears had touched them deeply. It was a victory that will go down in Michigan’s history, not just for the win, but for the emotion that came with it. And fans aren’t holding back!

Fans flood social media with love for Paul Juda

Fans flooded social media, sharing their reactions: “IT’S GREAT TO BE A MICHIGAN WOLVERINE‼️‼️‼️,” one fan wrote. Another added, “I’m literally sobbing, what a moment.” You can just feel the excitement. And honestly, who can blame them? Just think about Paul Juda—he’s 23, juggling grad school at Michigan, working on a Real Estate Development certificate, and crushing it in gymnastics. He earned his psychology degree just last year, all while helping the Wolverines to new heights. It’s no surprise that he’s pretty emotional about the win.

One more shared, “PAUL JUDA DESERVED THIS. I’m in tears too 🥺😭” while another said, “The GOAT energy is REAL. 💯.” It was a moment that had everyone feeling emotional, but it wasn’t just about the tears—it was about the happiness that came with it. Not only did Paul become a national champion, but he also made a big move in his personal life. After the win, he proposed to his girlfriend on the stage, Reyna. Now, imagine the nerves, right? He was so nervous, he told her, “I wish I was half of the man you are.” But despite this, she said “yes.” So yeah, Paul got the double win—he snagged the championship and, just as importantly, started a whole new chapter with the woman he loves.

And one fan expressed, “Paul Juda…I am crying with you! You and your team just made my day SO much better by winning the men’s national team title tonight, and I’m stoked that Kameron Nelson from OSU won the vault national title!! SO HAPPY for those guys! Congrats to everyone!!!” It was a night of pure emotion, and Paul definitely gave everyone something to cheer about.

Let’s talk about what he’s done, though! In 2024, he not only took home the NCAA floor exercise title but also helped his team snag the national championship. Plus, he earned silver in both the team and vault events.  And today, he took home the NCAA Parallel Bars Individual Title and a second-place finish in all-around. It’s like he just can’t stop winning—and the fans are here for it!