“They used to have pictures in my gym of the past Olympic teams that medaled,” Fred Richard recalled, eyes lit with the memory. “And I always looked at that, like, ‘Man, what if I was one of those people one day?’ And now we are.” That moment—etched in history eight months ago at the Paris Olympics—marked the end of a long drought. For the first time since the 2008 Beijing Games, the U.S. men’s artistic gymnastics team stood on the Olympic podium, clinching bronze with a performance that shook the arena. Fred Richard, Brody Malone, Stephen Nedoroscik, Asher Hong, and Paul Juda did more than just compete—they delivered and made themselves immortal in the 124-year history of US men’s gymnastics in the Olympics. But what about Simone Biles & Co.?

Across the mat, the Simone Biles-led women’s squad raised the bar even higher. After narrowly missing gold in Tokyo 2021, they stormed into Paris with something to prove—and they delivered. Simone, now 28 and still rewriting the limits of the sport, teamed up with Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, and rising star Hezly Rivera to reclaim the team gold, echoing their 2016 Rio triumph. The win wasn’t just dominant—it was defiant. Now, as the echoes of those Parisian nights still ring through the gymnastics world, a new idea is catching fire—what if the next Olympic breakthrough isn’t about men or women individually, but together?

There was real talk behind the scenes—whispers of a format that could change the face of gymnastics. A bold idea: male and female gymnasts, side by side, same team, same score, same shot at Olympic gold. Not an exhibition. Not a gimmick. A real, mixed team event. And now?

It’s happening! On April 9, the gymnastics world felt the ground shift. Officials confirmed what had only been a hopeful buzz until now: the LA 2028 Olympics will feature an official mixed team event in artistic gymnastics. The green light has been given. The stakeholders—federations, broadcasters, and athletes—have put their stamp on it. Yes, the sport is stepping into a new era.

The IOC (International Olympic Committee) in a release said, “Gender equality was a key consideration when deciding on the athlete quota and the number of events.” They further added, “…six mixed events were added to the event programme. Out of 351 events, there are 161 women’s events, 165 men’s events and 25 mixed events.” And one of the 25 mixed events is gymnastics.

This isn’t just about shaking things up for the crowd. It’s a strategic move—especially for the U.S. men’s team. With stars like Fred Richard and Brody Malone now able to combine forces with the likes of Simone Biles, Suni Lee, and Jordan Chiles, the chances of Team USA standing atop the podium just further skyrocketed. Imagine it: Biles flying high on the floor, Fred sticking a jaw-dropping high bar dismount, and Chiles and Juda anchoring with clutch routines. It’s not just history in the making—it’s a dream team in action. Sure, the official rulebook for the LA 2028 mixed-gender gymnastics event hasn’t dropped yet. The format, the scoring system, who does what and when—those details are still under wraps.

But make no mistake: the announcement alone could be a watershed moment in the long and winding saga of U.S. men’s gymnastics. Why? Because it might finally break the jinx.

Simone Biles and co might take a prominent role in the way 

Simone Biles hasn’t said yes—but she definitely hasn’t said no either. In July of last year, when asked about the possibility of competing in the Olympics on home soil in Los Angeles, Biles gave the kind of answer that keeps hope alive for gymnastics fans everywhere. “I would never say never, and I think that would be amazing to (do this) after every Olympic cycle,” she said. “I think that would be a beautiful thing. But right now, I can’t tell you yes or no. Like, no definitive answers because I don’t know what life will look like in the next few years to come.” Translation? Don’t count her out. So, if Simone does return in 2028, it won’t just be another comeback—it could be a full-circle moment for American gymnastics history. Why?

Let’s rewind to 1984. The last time the Olympics were hosted in Los Angeles, the U.S. men’s gymnastics team shocked the world and won its first—and only—Olympic team gold. That 41 years back golden summer remains a historic high point. But there’s something more. 

Now, fast-forward to today. Simone Biles is the only active gymnast to be a part of two different U.S. women’s squads that won team gold (2016 and 2024). She’s already cemented her place as a legend—but LA 2028 could offer something even bigger: the chance to compete on home turf, possibly in a mixed-gender team event, and maybe—just maybe—see both U.S. teams reclaim Olympic gold once again. Simone and Fred. Suni and Brody. Jordan and Asher. The stars are aligning. Could 2028 be the year history repeats itself—with a twist? Only time will tell if Simone Biles decides to step back onto the mat in LA. But if she does, the echoes of 1984, after 44 years, might just get a sequel we never knew we needed.