Olympic Medalist Fred Richard Set for a Bold Move Weeks After Successfully Defying 130-Year-Old Gymnastics Tradition

“I want to break the record and get four NCAA titles this year.” That is the goal for Fred Richard, as he appears in the 2025 NCAA season. He won three titles in 2023, clinching gold in the all-around, parallel bars, and high bar. Then came the 2024 season, where he finished second on most, and Asher Hong took titles on rings, vault, and parallel bars, tying the record. Maybe it’s the 2024 dry spell that compels him for more, but there’s time for that, and to pass that time, Fred has chosen to break another record. Yes, the flip master has taken up a new challenge! And what’s that?

Well, the next thing up on the calendar of the gymnast is going to attempt to break the backflip record. In an Instagram video posted on March 24, 2025, captioned, “It’s decided! I’m breaking the backflip world record 💪🏾😤, #gymnastics #backflip #record #win,” the 20-year-old athlete talked about his latest project. Frederick Richard said, “Guys, I’m doing it. I’m doing it. I’m breaking the backflip world record in 24 hours. 1,001 backflips is the record.” Now you would be wrong if you think he was coming for 1,002. No, he said, “I can’t just go for 1,002 because someone will beat it. I got to get some number way further so no one comes near it for a while.” Talk of mentality!!!

At first, he didn’t want to do it. He said, “I tried to sit back, guys. I watched Speed attempt to break the record.” On October 8, 2024, YouTuber iShowSpeed attempted to break the world record for the most backflips in 24 hours, aiming for 1,002 after the current record of 1,001 was set by Nico Scheicher in 2019. But iShowSpeed could only reach the 461 mark. He wanted to keep his body safe, citing, “First, I didn’t want to break it. I got to preserve the body. I got to stay healthy, keep training for LA 2028. But there’s a little sliver of time in my calendar.” Yes, it turns out the gymnast does have some time to chase for the world record and recover as well. Fred even explained how.

The gymnast said, “I can break the backflip record and then have seven days to recover. Not going to take any crazy amount of training. If I get like one week of preparation, do a couple hundred every day. By day 70, then we do 1,000.” The respect for Fred Richard goes higher when he tells what he is doing it for.

Apart from his personal dopamine, another reason for this attempt is to not “I  don’t want to just break the record. I want to raise money through charity to bring that equipment to Africa. All these kids in Africa are flipping on tires and mattresses,” and Richards just wants to do the right thing for them, asking, “How good could they get if they had real equipment? I can go there and bring them equipment there so they always have it. I think it’s exciting.” This is his definition of sports, citing, “I think this is what sports is about.” Inspiring!!!

He concluded the video by asking the fanbase for their opinions. He asked, “You guys think this is a good idea or a stupid idea? Let me know. I really want to beat that record.” When you talk of beating, it’s definitely not new for him! After all, he beat the traditional ways of gymnastics by challenging 130-year-old traditions in February this year.

Fred Richard goes up against the 130-year-old traditions

“I just felt like completely awkward like man I look so stupid right now. What are people thinking?” This is what Frederick Richard felt about the traditional Olympic unitard and fitted pommel horse pants that he has donned hundreds of times, the same ones that he won an Olympic bronze in. Continuing further, he said, “that does not feel free, it’s uncomfortable.”

The Olympian is not just all talk, though. Frederick Richards is not someone who just complains. He acts on it! The referee warned him that he was going to get deducted because what he was about to do was a violation, but little did he care. He wanted to give out the message. He debuted his TURN-partnered uniform at the Winter Cup competition in February 2025. This new outfit of the gymnast had a looser-fitting tank top and shorts that resembled a more tailored basketball uniform alongside leggings.

The Olympian pointed out that the fit now did two things. He said, “Number 1, it’s looser, it’s more comfortable. Number 2, people in the crowd will actually be able to wear your jersey. Right now you see it in a lot of other sports. You don’t see it in ours.” Fred Richards believes the coaches at collegiate gymnastics can vote for change in the uniform and wishes to use this momentum to have an impact on an international level as well. What do you think of this new uniform? Do let us know in the comments.