The moment everyone was waiting for. The Michigan Wolverines are National Champions! The 2025 NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championships, hosted by Michigan at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor from April 18-19, was nothing short of unforgettable. In front of their home crowd, the Wolverines secured the victory, edging out Stanford by less than two-tenths to prevent a six-peat by the Cardinal. With the leadership of Olympic bronze medalists Fred Richard and Paul Juda, Michigan made history.

The scores were a rollercoaster, but it was Paul Juda’s vault score that stole the show. Before the vault scores were revealed, Stanford had posted a solid 59.899 on bars. Michigan’s vault scores were the final piece of the puzzle, and as the numbers flashed across the screen, the crowd held their breath. Paul’s 13.966 vault score, added to his teammates’ contributions, brought Michigan’s total to 56.599—enough to claim victory. Solomi Chiosi led off with a 13.833, followed by Fred Richard and David Wolma, both posting 14.400. Juda’s 13.966 sealed the win.

As the final score sank in, it was impossible to hold back the emotion. When Paul saw his name flash on the scoreboard, the weight of the moment hit him hard. After this, Paul Juda won a National Championship. It was his first and probably will be his last national championship. Seeing this, tears started falling as he realized what it meant for him and his team. The entire gym—athletes, coaches, fans—was swept up in the emotion.

Social media exploded with tributes, with many sharing how the raw, heartfelt moment of Paul’s tears had touched them deeply. It was a victory that will go down in Michigan’s history, not just for the win, but for the emotion that came with it.

Fans flood social media with love for Paul Juda

Fans flooded social media, sharing their reactions: “IT’S GREAT TO BE A MICHIGAN WOLVERINE‼️‼️‼️”, one fan wrote. Another added, “I’m literally sobbing, what a moment.” You can just feel the excitement. And honestly, who can blame them? Just think about Paul Juda—he’s 23, juggling grad school at Michigan, working on a Real Estate Development certificate, and crushing it in gymnastics. He earned his psychology degree just last year, and now he’s balancing it all while helping the Wolverines to new heights. It’s no surprise that he’s pretty emotional about it all.

Even last year, when he found out he made the Olympic team, though? The guy was a mess—an emotional mess, in the best way. He said his heart was “pounding,” and as soon as he heard his name called, the tears just started flowing. And let’s not forget the crew that’s been there for him every step of the way. His pommel horse routine hit a little differently in the Paris Olympics, knowing his girlfriend, Reyna Guggino, and his family were cheering him on from the crowd. Knowing they’ve sacrificed so much to be there for him made him more emotional? It got to him.

One more shared, “PAUL JUDA DESERVED THIS. I’m in tears too 🥺😭” while another said, “The GOAT energy is REAL. 💯.” It was a moment that had everyone feeling emotional, but it wasn’t just about the tears—it was about the happiness that came with it. Not only did Paul become a national champion, but he also made a big move in his personal life. After the win, he proposed to his girlfriend on the stage, Reyna. Now, imagine the nerves, right? He was so nervous, he told her, “I wish I was half of the man you are.” But despite his nerves, she said yes. So yeah, Paul got the double happiness—he snagged the championship and, just as importantly, started a whole new chapter with the woman he loves. It was like a dream come true, twice over.

And one fan expressed, “Paul Juda…I am crying with you! You and your team just made my day SO much better by winning the men’s national team title tonight, and I’m stoked that Kameron Nelson from OSU won the vault national title!! SO HAPPY for those guys! Congrats to everyone!!!” It was a night of pure emotion, and Paul definitely gave everyone something to cheer about.

Let’s talk about what he’s done, though—this guy is a machine! In 2024, he not only took home the NCAA floor exercise title but also helped his team snag the national championship. Plus, he earned silver in both the team and vault events. On top of that, he helped Team USA bring home a bronze from the 2023 World Championships, was crowned U.S. floor exercise champ, and snagged the prestigious Nissen-Emery Award. It’s like the guy can’t stop winning—and the fans are here for it! Seriously, he’s on fire, and you can feel the excitement all around.