February 21, 2025. The air inside Louisville’s Freedom Hall hummed with anticipation as gymnasts warmed up, chalk dust floating under the bright arena lights. The Winter Cup had always been a stage for polished routines and quiet ambition. But that night, something was different. Fred Richard stepped into the arena, and instantly, the energy shifted. No singlet. No regulation uniform. Instead, he wore a loose navy tank top, white pommel horse pants, and knee-length shorts, a combination never before seen in men’s elite gymnastics. Judges exchanged glances. Coaches whispered. Fans in the stands leaned forward. A 130-year-old rulebook didn’t allow this. Richard knew what he was doing. He knew the penalty awaited him before he even touched the apparatus. He knew his final ranking would take a hit. But he didn’t hesitate! But what next?

He walked onto the floor but wasn’t just here to compete but to send a message! He finished second, but the message was delivered. Now, he’s got his sights on something else. Something history-making. Something that won’t come easy! The University of Michigan gymnast has already made waves on the world stage, helping Team USA secure a bronze medal in the team event at the Paris Olympics, their first in 16 years. But for Richard, the next big challenge isn’t in an Olympic arena. It’s at home, in the NCAA, and he is aiming for the record! Yes, you heard that right!

The record? Three NCAA titles in one championship. Richard knows this well, and he’s already done it. In 2023, as a freshman, he dominated the NCAA Championships, clinching gold in the all-around, parallel bars, and high bar. But he isn’t alone, as other gymnasts, including Asher Hong, a standout from Stanford, have also hit that milestone in the past, taking titles on rings, vault, and parallel bars during the NCAA finals in 2024. So, what’s next? Richard wants more. “It might be nearly impossible, but I want to break the NCAA record,” he shared in a recent Instagram reel. “After experiencing highs from the Olympics, it’s hard to feel that again, right? So you kind of look for things, but when you achieve it, you’re going to get that same high.”

The goal? Four titles in one NCAA Championship. No gymnast has ever done it. Richard is chasing history, but he’s also chasing the feeling, but it isn’t going to be easy “There’s six events plus team and all-around. So there’s eight possible. I mean, you can win it anyway, but I want to break the record and get four NCAA titles this year.”  On March 21, Michigan faces Nebraska in a crucial regular-season meet. “We host NCAAs at Michigan. We want the team to win,” he added. “It’s going to be hard because I’m facing specialists—guys that only do that one event. But that’s what makes it thrilling. That’s what gets me excited after the Olympics.”

If there’s anything to go by, Richard has never shied away from pushing boundaries. He’s seen tradition, challenged it, and, just like he did with his bold uniform protest. And recently, he gave an honest confession about why he did it.

Fred Richard opens up on defying tradition

For decades, gymnastics has been a sport steeped in tradition, uniforms included. But for Fred Richard, the standard competition singlet never felt quite right. And after years of feeling uncomfortable in it, he finally decided to make a change. “I’ve hated the way the uniforms look, felt uncomfortable in them,” Richard admitted in a candid chat on Sam Oldham’s podcast on March 11. “Every time I put it on, I’m like, ‘Alright, we have to go out in this uniform,’ never feeling like, ‘Wow, this is awesome. I can’t wait to compete, and everybody sees me in this uniform.’”

Richard’s discomfort wasn’t a secret. His teammates, coaches, and even officials knew his feelings about the uniform. But changing a century-old tradition? That wasn’t going to be easy. He waited until after the Paris Olympics to take action. Instead of just speaking out, he worked with the gymnastics apparel brand Turn to design something better, something he could feel confident in. but also just—what would “I really love to wear and feel true to me? To my younger self who hated the uniform?” he shared.

Richard isn’t afraid to challenge norms. He once skipped meals to afford a social media team to promote gymnastics. Now, he’s pushing for a uniform revolution. The question is, will the sport embrace the change, or will tradition hold firm?