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Yul Moldauer’s Journey From Farm Boy to American Olympian Explored

Published 12/28/2023, 4:45 PM EST

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27-year-old Yul Moldauer, once told he might never grow into a “productive adult” by doctors when he was just one. However, he defied all odds. A leading name on the USA men’s gymnastics team, the South Korean-born American artistic gymnast Moldauer has had a journey unlike any other. As of 2023, he was the lone team member with Olympic experience on the bronze medal-winning team at the 2023 World Championships.

He also became the oldest U.S. man to win a world medal in 20 years. And that’s not all; he even clinched U.S. team gold at the Swiss Cup in Zurich. With blazing wins under his belt, let us peek behind this icon and explore the humble beginnings of Yul Moldauer.

The journey of Yul Moldauer from a farm boy to an Olympian

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According to KUNC, after the 2020 Olympics wrapped up, Yul Moldauer sat down with Alana Schreiber and discussed his Olympic debut. The interviewer asked Yul if growing up on a farm influenced his journey to the Olympics and shaped him as an athlete. Yul Moldauer said, “Oh, I think it plays a huge role. It taught me how to be on time. It taught me how to work as a team. It taught me not to be lazy”.

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Discussing how the animals and livestock depended on the caregivers, he shared that this taught him responsibility, knowing that he was solely responsible for their well-being. He even shared that “it just made me realize how much the farm did for me and my perspectives of what work ethic is”. This very work ethic saw him make it to the pinnacle event with a streak of achievements that made the moment possible.

A peek behind Moldauer’s Gymnastic Odyssey

Peeking behind the curtain we know that Arvada local Yul Moldauer was born in South Korea and adopted by his parents, Peter and Orsa, at the age of 1. When he turned 7, he joined a local gym offering a free tryout and later joined 5280 Gymnastics at the age of 10, where he was coached by the Artemev family.

He quickly rose through the ranks, winning state and regional meets and becoming a member of the Junior National Team. Transitioning to the senior level, Moldauer’s success soared. In 2017, he became the U.S. national all-around champion and won a bronze medal at the World Championships on floor exercise.

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via Reuters

Then, in 2018, he was named the Male Athlete of the Year by USA Gymnastics and won the Nissen Emery Award in 2019, an annual prize given to the top male gymnast in the NCAA. Representing the U.S.A. at the 2020 Olympics at the age of 24, Moldauer showcased his incredible skills, securing a commendable sixth place in the men’s floor final despite training in his home garage during the pandemic due to gym closures.

Read more: Millionaire American Gymnast Yul Moldauer’s Defining Brand Deals Explored

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The incredible athlete will be joining us at the ESFancast LIVE this Friday at 02:00 PM EST. Tune in as we explore and pick the mind of this 11-time NCAA champion, Tokyo 2020 Olympian, 2023 Swiss Cup Winner, and overall ace gymnast.

Watch this story: GYMNASTICS QUEEN SIMONE BILES WILDLY FOLLOWS THE LATEST TREND AFTER SUPPORTING HER NFL HUSBAND FOR BIG DAY

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Written by:

Christaline Meyers

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Hello there! I'm Christaline Meyers, a Olympics Sports Writer for Essentially Sports. As an ardent lover of the sporting world, I've found my home in the dazzling world of Gymnastics, where elegance meets athleticism in gravity-defying routines. But my passion doesn't stop there; I'm a sports enthusiast with a taste for the wild waves of surfing, the adrenaline rush of Alpine Skiing, and the street-smart moves of skateboarding.
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Edited by:

Purva Jain