With strong performances from all five of their members, Team USA’s male gymnasts won a bronze medal in the team competition, their first Olympic medal in sixteen years. China took home silver and Japan took home gold.
The group of Asher Hong, Paul Juda, Brody Malone, and pommel horse expert Stephen Nedoroscik, led by superstar Frederick Richard, became the first American men to win a team gymnastics gold medal at the Games since the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
China’s Su Weide twice went off the horizontal bar, allowing Japan to win its ninth team gold medal by a mere 0.532 points. Following the men’s team’s bronze medal victory, Team USA Gymnastics shared a joyful message on social media.
OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALISTS! š„
For the first time since 2008, the U.S. Men are taking home hardware in the Olympic Team Competition! Congratulations to Asher, Paul, Brody, Stephen & Frederick – you are Olympic Medalists! pic.twitter.com/sodNiW76Ut
ā USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) July 29, 2024
“For the first time since 2008, the U.S. Men are taking home hardware in the Olympic Team Competition!” USA Gymnastics stated. “Congratulations to Asher, Paul, Brody, Stephen & Frederick ā you are Olympic Medalists!”
As the men’s team won bronze after routine after routine, flag-waving Americans chanted “U-S-A! U-S-A!” throughout the tournament in Bercy Arena.
Nedoroscik’s pommel horse score of 14.866, Hong’s vault score of 14.833, and Richard’s incredible high bar performance were among the top scores.
“It’s so powerful,” Angie Tyler from Louisville, Kentucky stated. “His release moves are super exciting. He has a lot of combinations that he puts together, as well.”
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After a far more difficult qualifying round on Saturday, the team placed fifth and defeated Great Britain and Ukraine in the championship game.
“We were cheering ‘U-S-A,’ we were getting a little hoarse in our voice,” Philadelphia resident Wally Orlov stated. “It’s nice to see the boys catching up with the girls again.”
Next up for competition is the all-around final between Richard and Paul, while Nedoroscik, who goes by “Clark Kent” due to his thick glasses, will compete for a medal in the pommel horse final.
Fourth position went to Great Britain, and fifth place went to Ukraine. Due to its involvement in the conflict with Ukraine, Russiaāwhich took home a gold medal from the Tokyo Olympicsāwill not be participating in the Paris Games.
