American Athlete Recalls Most Embarrassing Memory From Competition After Ending USA’s Podium Drought in World Gymnastics Championships

Frederick Nathaniel Richard, best known as Fred Richard, has made headlines in 2023 like never before. The 19-year-old has earned some notable laurels at such a tender age, the recent being the all-around World Gymnastics Championships bronze. His gymnastic routines are near perfect, and they pose threats to his fellow competitors. But there’s this popular saying that nothing or no one is perfect.

Having anchored his team to end USA’s podium drought, Richard has had a stellar WC this year. He became the first US man standing with an all-around medal since 2010. But no matter how exhilarating his win sounds, a gymnast of such a measure is a man with embarrassing stories like any other human.

World Gymnastics Championships bronze medalist faces embarrassment

Peloton, a brand that works towards empowering people through fitness, using technology and design, caught Richard in a candid questionnaire, according to his Instagram post. Instructor Ally Love fired some questions about the 2021 Junior Pan-Am Championship in an indoor jumping arena. When she asked, “Most embarrassing gym moment?”, Fred Richard went all in with the details.

His answer went like “Podium training, big competition, you know I salute the judge and I got for the first skill and I fart midway. And then I start laughing, my coaches start laughing and I just fall on the skill. That’s kinda awkward but yeah.” Ally, unable to resist her laughter, turning red out of embarrassment herself. With a face palm, she said “Gonna get out of here“, but the 19-year-old laughed unabashedly sitting in front of her.

Fred Richard has his eyes set on the Olympic podium

Speaking of embarrassing moments, though not laughable, but Richard had faced a fall at the high bar at the WC this year. It may be a reason of embarrassment for him, but his Olympic plans had rewarded him big despite occasional setbacks.

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Fred Richard always has the bigger picture in mind. Though he believes in the stepping stones, but he doesn’t consider them to everything. His only mission is to victor: “Experience is one thing. It’s great and all, but I want to win”. He further added, “I like to think of myself as an Olympic-level gymnast above everything else.” Now, it’s just a matter of time to see whether the 19-year-old sticks to his words or not.

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