Fred Richard has taken the Olympian spotlight to a whole new level. With over 800K followers on Instagram, he’s a full-blown creator, known for blending world-class gymnastics with entertainment that breaks the internet. From challenging soccer players to teaming up with world record holder Shayne Boyle, and even roping in his own coach, Fred has done it all. Yet, this time, his latest collaboration with Michigan track star Payton Smith has fans buzzing, because the real reason behind it might just be way spicier than anyone could have imagined.

In the one-minute montage, we see Fred Richards teaching Smith the basics of a backflip, starting with the vertical jump, which she nailed effortlessly. Next came the jump and roll, another smooth move, though she began to show slight hesitation. But the real challenge started with the half-flips. After nearly ten backflip attempts, which were almost perfect, she finally landed one, earning a cheer from Richards. Wrapping it up with a motivational pep talk, Fred Richards said, “Gymnastics is about perfect execution — what are you trying to perfectly execute?”

Answering his question, the Michigan standout explained, “I think, in track, I’m trying to perfect my mental aspect so that I can really run as fast as I can run.” Does she need more speed? Well, the answer is not quite that simple. It’s all about unlocking the potential inside your mind before translating that raw power to your body. According to Payton Smith, taking to the gym mat seems to be the “coolest thing I have done all year.” She even tipped her hat to Fred Richard for being the “best teacher.”

Coming off a stellar freshman campaign, Smith has already etched her name in the annals of the Wolverines’ record books. A member of the school-record 4x400m team, which clocked in 3:29.22, she was an honourable mention in All-American 2025 in the 4x400m relay this year. Her blazing 53.17 finish at the USATF U20 Championships landed her fourth in the nation, cementing her as one of the best new talents out of Michigan.

Her debut season was nothing short of electric – from setting a personal best of 23.71 in the 200m to clocking 52.99 in the 400m and storming through the NCAA East First Round with a program-record relay run, she did it all. She held her own against seasoned competition, securing podium finishes at the Big Ten Championships and dominating the Len Paddock meet, 45.23 for second place in the 4x100m relay indoors.

Before donning the Maize and Blue, Smith reigned supreme in California high school athletics; she was her state champion in the 400m as well as an eight-time All-American. With school records in the 100m, 200m, and 400m to her name, she was named the San Diego Athlete of the Year twice. From Cali tracks to the global stage, she is making sure that people hear her story. Well, interestingly, back when she was named Athlete of the Year by San Diego, her coach explained why she was the best.

“She is part of an elite group,” said Payton Smith’s coach about her

When Payton Smith was just a high school student at the LA Jolla, she first laced up as a freshman, Smith never imagined that she would sprint her way into the record books so soon. In her debut meet back in 2021, she stunned everyone, breaking into the school’s all-time top 10 fastest 100-meter times. “I don’t think she realized how good she really was until her first meet her freshman year,” said coach Paul Byrne. “It took her a while to see how special she is. She has always been very humble about it, but she is part of an elite group.”

Talking about her own records, Payton Smith explained, “It catches me off guard when I beat my own best times,” she said. “I’ve been training pretty intensely for the past two years, but posting those times is a pretty big deal and I’m excited about it. With individual sports, everything relies on you and how you perform, I want to show off the work I put into my training. … And you never know who’s watching, so I always want to perform the best. I take it as ‘Do your best and show what you can do.’”

Years have passed since that incident, and Smith is already making a name for herself on the world stage, and it’s just a matter of time before the greats have their eyes on her. Regardless, what are your thoughts on the athlete? State your opinion in the comments below.