The Paris Olympics have officially kicked off, and Team USA’s men’s gymnastics squad is bringing the heat! All eyes were on veteran Brody Malone during the Men’s Qualifications Subdivision at Bercy Arena. Remember, Brody’s the only guy on the team with Olympic experience, having made his debut in Tokyo. So naturally, the spotlight was on him.However, the veteran who dazzled as the second all-around (170.30) at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June 2024 found his Olympic dreams hanging by a thread, facing falls not once but twice during a nail-biting day!

First up for Brody Malone at the Artistic Gymnastics Men’s Qualification, Subdivision 1: The dreaded Pommel Horse, requiring immense intricacy and power. Brody aimed for a daring one-arm circle but… gravity had other plans. His hand slipped behind the horse, and he took a tumble coming off the apparatus. Yikes! He got back on and kept his cool (mostly), but his hips were still calling for some TLC. He nailed the dismount, but the score? A not-so-flashy 12.100.

Rotation 1 Standings:

1. Jake Jarman (GBR) – 15.166
2. Krisztofer Meszaros (HUN) – 14.733
3. Luke Whitehouse (GBR) – 14.500
4. Joe Fraser (GBR) – 14.300
5. Félix Dolci (CAN) – 14.133
6. Samuel Zakutney (CAN) – 14.033
7. Fred Richard (USA) – 13.633
8. Paul Juda (USA) – 13.600

Fans were biting their nails after that one, wondering if Brody could bounce back. However, the competition was a roller coaster ride for him. With the top 24 gymnasts (maximum two per country) advancing to the All-Around Final, the stakes were high. Only the top 8 gymnasts on each apparatus qualify for the apparatus finals, and the top 8 teams make it to the Team Final. So, how did the first day unfold for Brody Malone?

USA gymnastics veteran Brody Malone had a tough opening event at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Next up, second rotation of the Artistic Gymnastics Men’s Qualification, Subdivision 1: Still Rings. Here Brody Malone stepped up, with a solid 14.233. So, while the Pommel Horse might’ve thrown a wrench in the works, Brody’s got plenty of time to show us what he’s made of.

Rotation 2 Standings:

1. Jake Jarman (GBR) – 29.432
2. Joe Fraser (GBR) – 29.233
3. Luke Whitehouse (GBR) – 28.400
4. Krisztofer Meszaros (HUN) – 28.399
5. Félix Dolci (CAN) – 28.266
6. Samuel Zakutney (CAN) – 27.266
7. Diogo Soares (BRA) – 27.233
8. Nils Dunkel (GER) – 27.166

By Rotation 3, the 2-time World Championship medalist Brody Malone was on a slight comeback on vault. He performed a Kas 1 1/2 with one hop out of the area and off the 4″ mat, scoring a solid 13.833.

Rotation 3 Standings:

1. Joe Fraser (GBR) – 43.433
2. Jake Jarman (GBR) – 42.765
3. Paul Juda (USA) – 41.533
4. Krisztofer Meszaros (HUN) – 41.299
5. Diogo Soares (BRA) – 41.166
6. Fred Richard (USA) – 41.066
7. Luke Whitehouse (GBR) – 40.866
8. Nils Dunkel (GER) – 40.866

In Rotation 4, Brody Malone gave a massive performance on the Parallel Bars, scoring a 14.533. This brought him up quite a lot in the standings.

Rotation 4 Standings:

1. Jake Jarman (GBR) – 57.531
2. Joe Fraser (GBR) – 56.966
3. Paul Juda (USA) – 55.566
4. Fred Richard (USA) – 55.499
5. Diogo Soares (BRA) – 55.299
6. Krisztofer Meszaros (HUN) – 54.699
7. Brody Malone (USA) – 54.699
8. Nils Dunkel (GER) – 54.466

Hopes began to rise for Brody Malone in Rotation 5, only to be dashed once again. On the High Bar, Brody started strong with great pirouettes, but disaster struck on the full-twisting layout, Tkachev. He fell but got back up, attempting a Cassina with a stretched catch, followed by a Kolman, which he basically caught on his elbows before crashing against the bar and coming off. He managed to complete a good Tkachev combo, a Tak full, and a Quast, sticking his double-double layout dismount, but the damage was done.

Brody’s fall on the full-twisting layout Tkachev means he’s out of the High Bar final, and the All-Around final looks uncertain as well. His performance was marred by missing the release on the Liukin, catching too close to the bar, stalling, and eventually having to drop off.

Rotation 5 Standings:

1. Jake Jarman (GBR) – 71.997
2. Joe Fraser (GBR) – 70.966
3. Fred Richard (USA) – 69.665
4. Paul Juda (USA) – 68.899
5. Nils Dunkel (GER) – 68.432
6. Krisztofer Meszaros (HUN) – 68.432
7. Diogo Soares (BRA) – 68.399
8. Luke Whitehouse (GBR) – 67.132

In Rotation 6, Team USA Gymnastics men tackled the Floor Exercise on Night 1 of the Paris Olympics. Unfortunately for Brody Malone, the tough night continued with a hand-down error on his double-double, scoring a disappointing 12.666.

Subdivision 1 standings for men’s gymnastics at the end of the day were:

1. Jake Jarman (GBR) – 84.897
2. Joe Fraser (GBR) – 84.666
3. Fred Richard (USA) – 83.498
4. Paul Juda (USA) – 82.865
5. Krisztofer Meszaros (HUN) – 82.798
6. Diogo Soares (BRA) – 81.999
7. Félix Dolci (CAN) – 81.498
8. Nils Dunkel (GER) – 81.232

Unfortunately for Brody Malone, this meant missing out on All-Around qualifications. With only the top 24 gymnasts (maximum two per country) advancing, Team USA’s spots went to Fred Richard (83.498) and Paul Juda (82.865). Despite the heartbreak, Brody Malone still has a chance to dust himself off and gear up for the Team Finals. Here’s how the team standings look:

Great Britain – 256.561
United States – 253.229
Canada – 247.794
Germany – 245.395

What do you think of this tough start for Stanford gymnast and USA gymnastics veteran Brody Malone at the Paris Olympics? Share your thoughts in the comments below!