Alright, picture this—you’re all set to watch one of the biggest gymnastics events of the season, the 2025 Winter Cup, and you expect to see Fuzzy Benas go all out in the all-around. I mean, why wouldn’t he? The Man’s been killing it for years. But hold up—when the competition lineup drops, his name’s literally listed for floor and vault. No parallel bars. No high bar. And No rings. Nada. So now, we’re all sitting here like, What happened to Fuzzy? Did he wake up one day and decide, ‘Nah, I’m good’? Did he pull a Simone Biles 2021 and take a mental health break? Or is there some other drama brewing? Well, let’s break it down.

Is Fuzzy Benas not competing at the 2025 Winter Cup?

Unfortunately for all of us who wanted to see Benas light up the entire arena, he isn’t doing the all-around this year. Instead, he’s keeping it low-key and sticking to just two events—floor and vault. Why? Well, the short answer is injury recovery, per Sooner’s official website. The longer answer? It’s a strategic decision that might just pay off in the long run.

After an eventful 2024 that saw him solidify his spot on the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team, Benas is being careful with his return. He’s still in the game, but instead of pushing himself too hard too soon, he opted to compete only on the floor and vault. Smart move? Absolutely. But it left fans wondering what happened to his all-around dominance.

Despite these setbacks, this man got that Mamba mentality. In 2024, he bounced back in style—winning the vault title last week against Michigan and Simpson, securing personal bests, and even making it onto the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team. But here’s the thing—just ‘cause he’s a beast doesn’t mean his body is superhuman. He’s still easing back into full competition mode. So yeah, no all-around for now. But if history tells us anything, Benas will be back throwing insane skills before we know it.

What happened to Fuzzy Benas?

Benas’ journey to the top hasn’t been smooth sailing. The guy’s been through it all—shoulder surgery, a freak accident while carving a pumpkin (yes, really), and even an Achilles tear. But if anyone knows how to fight back, it’s Fuzzy. His comeback in 2024 was nothing short of diabolical. He led the Oklahoma Sooners to a third-place NCAA finish and grabbed a bronze in the all-around.

He further helped Team USA dominate at the DTB Pokal Mixed Cup in Germany. The man was on fire. But the grind takes a toll, and Benas knew he had to pace himself. Oklahoma men’s gymnastics head coach Mark Williams straight-up couldn’t believe it. He hit Instagram on Sunday, dropping, “Released on Monday, started vaulting on Tuesday, and competed like this on Saturday 🤯.”

Yeah, you read that right. Fuzzy Benas went from fresh off-thumb surgery in January to throwing down a jaw-dropping vault just days later. Most folks figured he’d need time to ease back in, but nope. He wasted zero time proving everyone wrong. The injury? Happened back in November, right before the 2024 Swiss Cup. An MRI later? Full muscle tear. By February 21st, the man was participating in floor and vault.

At the 2025 Winter Cup, he played it safe, hitting the floor and vault instead of tackling all six apparatuses. He landed 6th on the floor with a 13.600 and 7th on the vault with a 13.900—solid scores, but not the full-throttle performance fans were expecting. With a total of 27.500 points, he finished 33rd overall, while Riley Loos took the top spot with 80.400. Clearly, Benas isn’t at his peak just yet.

But even superheroes need time to recover. That’s why, for now, he’s only taking on floor and vault—because, let’s be real, pushing too hard too soon? Not worth another injury.

Which gymnasts have withdrawn from the 2025 Winter Cup?

But Fuzzy Benas isn’t the only one making adjustments this season. Several gymnasts have either pulled out entirely or dialed back their participation. For the Oklahoma Sooners, sophomore Tas Hajdu was originally set to compete but opted out due to a sore shoulder. Coach Mark Williams confirmed the decision on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Tas Hajdu made the hard decision to pass on his qualified spot due to shoulder soreness in order to rest for the second half of the NCAA season.”

Tough break, but it’s clear he’s prioritizing long-term health over short-term gains. But that’s not all. Another famous name out of action is Yul Moldauer. The 2017 NCAA all-around champ qualified but chose not to compete No official reason was given, but considering he’s already a legend in the game, he’s probably just pacing himself. And let’s not forget about Tiana Sumanasekera.

At just 17, she’s already a star—she nearly made the 2024 Olympic team and crushed it at the 2023 Pan American Championships. But even she had to sit this one out. Her reason? She just wasn’t feeling 100%. “My coaches and I decided it was best to withdraw from Winter Cup as I was not feeling my best. I am looking forward to the upcoming competitions. Thank you all for the love and support,” she said.

Fair enough. With all the competitions coming up, she’s saving her energy for bigger things. Look, it’s a bummer for fans, but it just goes to show how strategic these athletes have to be with their schedules. Gymnastics is a brutal sport—one wrong move and you’re sidelined for months. So, no, Fuzzy Benas isn’t out. He’s just playing the long game.

After everything he’s been through—surgeries, freak injuries, and the grueling road back to elite form—he’s making smart moves to ensure he stays in the game for the long haul. The same goes for Hajdu, Moldauer, and Sumanasekera. The Winter Cup is just one chapter in a long season, and these athletes are choosing longevity over temporary glory.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that gymnastics isn’t just about flipping and twisting—it’s about knowing when to push and when to step back. And for Fuzzy Benas, the 2025 Winter Cup was all about that balance.