“I started competing when I was six years old. Around the time I was 11 or 12, I decided that I wanted to try to go to the Olympics. Here I am making that dream come true,” said Brody Malone, who recently secured his spot on the U.S. Olympic team at the trials in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Despite a lackluster performance at his last Olympics, Malone is determined to make a strong comeback in Paris. 

This year, his goals include winning gold and defeating Japan’s reigning champion, Daiki Hashimoto. As the 2024 Paris Olympics approach, Malone revealed that his rivalry with Hashimoto has fueled his motivation. Their competitive spirit and mutual respect highlight the intense preparation driving these athletes as they aim for gold.

Brody Malone is eager to beat his Japanese rival

In a recent interview with Brody Malone, the gymnast discussed the setbacks from his physical injuries and how they have inspired him to come back even stronger. He especially emphasized that this year his prime opponent is Japan’s Daiki Hashimoto. The man who won the all-around gold in the Tokyo Olympics. Notably, he is also a specialist in the high bar like Malone. The added pressure comes from the fact that Malone looks up to Hashimoto a lot. In fact, he’s even hung up photos of Hashimoto in action around his gym, in order to “get [his] butt in gear and work hard.”

During the DTB Pokal Cup in Stuttgart last year, Malone did not abandon his vault routine because he still wanted to win against Daiki Hashimoto. This ultimately led to an incorrect landing on his knee, resulting in torn ligaments and tibial fractures. To recover properly, Malone has moved from Stanford to EVO Gymnastics in Sarasota, Florida. There, he works alongside a full-time physical therapist and athletic trainer who has customized his training regimen according to his injuries. He has gradually begun integrating floor and vault exercises back into his routine.

This took some time and effort because they’re the most taxing on the knees. Daiki Hashimoto and Brody Malone share similar areas of expertise, particularly in the high bar, making their rivalry legendary. They faced off in the 2022 World Championships, where Hashimoto won the all-around gold and Malone triumphed in the high bar, becoming the first American since 1979 to do so. Both gymnasts have routines that incorporate complex release moves and swings. This year, Malone aims to one-up the reigning champion and avoid a repeat of the Tokyo Games.

Redemption from Tokyo: Aiming for Gold in Paris Olympics

In 2021, Brody Malone was majoring in management science and engineering at Stanford and training under the guidance of coach Thom Gliemi. He had just become the national champion and won his second NCAA all-around title, leading the Cardinals to a national championship victory. During the trials in St. Louis that year, he finished first with a three-point lead over the runner-up. In 2024, he came in second after Fred Richard, with an overall score of 170.500.

That year he said, “I didn’t really talk too too much about it,” talking about his quick succession to becoming an elite gymnast, “I think I did a pep rally one time. It was Olympic-themed. And they were like, ‘Oh you’re a gymnast, do some backflips.” He scored 85.25 in the trials. The Olympics proved to be a challenging event for the USA men’s gymnastics team. Despite high expectations, they fell short, with Brody Malone finishing 10th in the all-around with a score of 84.465. The team narrowly missed the podium, placing fifth with a combined score of 254.584.

The roster included Brody Malone, Sam Mikulak, Yul Moldauer, and Shane Wiskus, all under the guidance of Brett McClure. McClure has since implemented significant changes in the team’s routine and mindset, aiming to end the 20-year gold medal drought. The USA men’s gymnastics team last won bronze in Beijing and gold in 1984 in Los Angeles. Despite scoring 86.75 at the Nationals, Malone’s performance at the Olympics was lackluster, failing to meet high expectations. This experience has left him determined to redeem himself in Paris.