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US Gymnast Fred Richard Shares How NCAA Gymnastics Has Been Crucial in Elevating His Career and Helped Him “Get to the Next Level”

Published 03/24/2024, 12:12 PM EDT

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Last week, Michigan’s Sophomore Fred Richard added a new feather to his cap of accolades. By accomplishing a nation-leading score of 86.950 all around and 15.30 on the high bar, Fred secured the title of “Big Ten Gymnast of the Week”. Not only this, he added a win on floor exercise to the team’s total to emerge victorious over the opponent Penn State. 

Along the same lines, Fred marked a mere .05 off his personal best of 15.10 to record the third-highest score in the NCAA season. Fred’s accomplishments over the years have not only made him stand out in the world’s perspective, where female gymnasts rule the throne, but he has not always been the top gymnast.

What is Fred Richard’s candid insight on dealing with pressure? 

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A couple of days ago, Fred joined Sam Oldham and his family of 9.72k subscribers on YouTube to unveil the secrets of his successful journey as a gymnast. The interview session with the title “The Fred Richard Story” was then uploaded, and within a few hours, it went viral throughout the internet. 

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Spectators have always loved to hear Fred Richard as a source of insights into the inner workings of a world champion’s mind. In the same interview session, Richards said, “I competed about 15, 15 plus competitions. Okay. And I think that was my year of really growing, like, making that next jump to the high level.

Even though Richard has been an amazing gymnast who inspires people, he avoided the feat amidst the tumult of self-doubt and nerves. While shedding light on the valuable role of the Collegiate system in moulding a competitor’s edge, he added, “I wouldn’t have been where I was at World Championships without that experience beforehand. …… And there’s so much testing that you need to do under pressure to really get to that high level.” Despite facing immense pressure, Fred Richard, with the help of his unwavering determination, weathered the storm.

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A champion’s quest for glory

Fred Richard’s journey as a champion gymnast is nothing less than a thrilling saga of perseverance and triumph. His hard work and resilience have no bounds, which are quite evident from his 2023 US Championship high bar win. Not content with just one domain, Fred adorned his list of achievements with a team and floor silver medal as a part of the University of Michigan. 

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Currently, Fred is gearing up to shine atop the podium at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics. The level of preparation for the grand stage can be estimated by Fred’s 2023 FIG World Championship win, wherein he etched his name in historical records as the first American to accomplish an all-around medal since 2010. All of this has only added to the expectations on Fred’s shoulders. Now, the question is whether Fred will be able to overcome intense pressure or if he will have to wait four more years to obtain his Olympic medal.

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Written by:

Yashika Dutta

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Yashika Dutta is an Olympic Sports writer at EssentiallySports who actively covers NCAA Division 1 Volleyball. This state-level basketball player showcased her journalistic skills by covering live stats of the 2023 Big Ten Volleyball Championships and the 2023 NCAA Division 1 Women’s Volleyball Championships. Beyond the thrill of the court, Yashika delves into the combating realm covering NCAA wrestling, especially the celebrated careers of David Taylor and Spencer Lee. To know more about her, follow Yashika on:-
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Edited by:

Suman Varandani