“I’m making this change for my 10-year-old self, who felt awkward in tights and embarrassed to tell people I’m pursuing a ‘girls’ sport. And for every kid who still feels that way today.” Being a competitor means much more than mere words; it functions as a purpose in life. In his quest to break barriers, Fred Richards found himself competing and collaborating with unexpected rivals.

The roar of the crowd inside the Bercy Arena on July 29 wasn’t just for the medal. It was for the statement being made. As Team USA (257.793) secured their first men’s artistic gymnastics team medal in 16 years. While most might assume his biggest competition comes from fellow gymnasts, Richard has been testing himself against athletes from entirely different arenas. Among them? Track and field superstar Noah Lyles and internet sensation IShowSpeed.

Their influence on him, and vice versa, is proof that success isn’t limited to just one lane. In the 107th episode of The Sam Oldham Podcast, Frederick Richards shared a glimpse into his unconventional journey, one that goes far beyond gymnastics. “Noah, I actually knew him before the Olympics… he was already supporting me. He followed me, he saw my journey,” Richard shared. “Number one, you have to be out there, you have to be doing things in the world for people to notice you. Once they notice you and they respect you, then it’s building the conversation.” Their bond was built on mutual admiration, but it soon became a strategic partnership. Richard, always looking for ways to improve, saw an opportunity.

“I know I’m creating this storyline of me getting to the highest level of gymnastics… How could someone who’s number one in track help me on this journey?” The answer? Speed. Lyles’ expertise in sprinting offered Richard a fresh perspective on perfecting his vaults. While his collaboration with Lyles was calculated, his connection with IShowSpeed came out of nowhere. “For Speed, it’s a little different… I never asked him anything. He DM’d me first,” Richard recalled. The YouTuber, known for his over-the-top energy and athletic experiments, had attempted to break a backflip record and caught Richard’s attention. Richard made a video critiquing his attempt, and soon Speed’s team took notice.

“Then he hits me up… I just see a DM from Speed, says, ‘Yo, do you think I could get a standing double backflip’?” It was a near-impossible challenge, but Fred Richards didn’t hesitate to engage. “Only like three people in the world can do it… this is probably one of the hardest things to achieve.” Two days later, they were in the gym together, pushing the limits of what was possible. Whether it’s learning from the fastest man on the track or coaching one of the biggest internet personalities on the planet, Richard’s competitive mindset extends beyond gymnastics.

Challenging gymnastics norms while making history at the Winter Cup 2025

Fred Richards showcased his largest victory by taking the second place spot at the 2025 Winter Cup. As the sole competitor from Team USA Paris squad this year, Richard carried considerable pressure at this edition. He took second position in the all-around competition during the men’s artistic gymnastics section of the second day with his total score of 159.000, which became his second-ever Winter Cup medal.

The tournament held a different meaning this year compared to previous runs. The all-around title belonged to Stanford Cardinal alum Riley Loos, who achieved 160.850 points, defeating Richard at this significant competition. Loos continued his successful performance by earning first places in the floor exercise and still rings events in addition to his all-around victory. But the real significance? His victory created history for Stanford Cardinal by making him their first all-around title winner at the Winter Cup.

During this time, Loos set new records for Stanford, yet Richard embarked on a mission to tackle the age-old gymnastics dress code regulations. Since 1896, the men’s gymnastics history has included required tight singlet uniforms as a standard facility requirement. These elitist rules about gymnastics attire have persisted through every generation without facing any challenge despite their discomforting and outmoded nature. Fear did not stop Richard from taking a stand against existing rules of elite gymnastics’ uniform standards.

On February 20, he took to Instagram, stating, “We can make it way looser, but still will show everything it needs to show, look clean.” His plan? Ditch the singlet and instead compete in pommel horse pants, shorts, and a loose tank top. Fully knowing that doing so would result in point deductions. But for him, the statement was more important than the score. He knew the risks, but that didn’t faze him. As he put it in his Instagram post, “I’ll have to still perform really well, and I’m going to have to pop off so I can still win.” And in the end, he did exactly that. And if history has shown us anything, it’s that Fred Richard isn’t afraid to be the one leading that charge.