It’s officially the time of the year that gymnastic fans have awaited with bated breaths! Team USA gymnasts have touched down in Paris for the 33rd Olympic Games and it seems that the ambitious crew has already jumped into training with both feet! Yes, you read that right. Perhaps inspired by the adage, “deeds, not words,” USA gymnasts have got the ball rolling right away, by showing up on the mats for an on-ground training session.

But amidst these developments, fans are speculating something fishy about the men’s gymnastics team. What can it possibly be? Well, something about Brody Malone’s look from the training has raised tensions in the air that everything may not be okay with him. Are we looking at a piece of probable bad news from the camp? Nothing is known as yet. But fans are certainly on tenterhooks!

Brody Malone’s odd appearance triggers speculations

On 19th July, USA Gymnastics uploaded an X post, featuring images of their American stars showing up on Day 1 of the practice sessions in France. While 7 of them, Simone Biles and Co. posed happily for the camera, the images of the men’s team led to fans launching a series of questions. Why so? Well, the men’s team was not only one lesser in number but also presented an odd-looking Malone, who was the only one wearing a mask to the practice.

A stark peculiarity, fans were quick to notice the mask. And it led to them questioning if all was well with Malone. Also, among the 6 male gymnasts on the mat, Shane Wiskus, the traveling alternate was missing from the images. This further led to increasing conjecture.

After the COVID-19-restricted Tokyo Olympics in 2021, everyone is looking for things to return to normalcy at the Games this year. But these two absurd visuals from the Team USA’s gymnastics contingent have fans taking to the comment section, to voice their doubts.

Fans take stabs in the dark about Malone and Wiskus

Brody Malone has had a difficult and injury-ridden past. One that sent him on a 14-month-long hiatus in 2023, post the DTB Cup mishap in Germany. Indeed, most of his fans are privy to this. Thus, even the slightest possibility of him not appearing fit as a fiddle seems concerning to his fans. One such ardent follower commented inquiring, “Is Brody ok?!?!!!!!!!” With multiple exclamations perhaps denoting the intensity with which they ask this momentous question.

For Malone, the stakes at this Olympics are sky high. He once expressed the profound significance it holds for him. “Anytime you get the opportunity to represent your country on the Olympic stage, it’s an honor and a blessing,” he said. Thus, it’s obvious that he would want to be in his best shape. But do fans think that of him presently? Well, maybe not.

A second fan opined, “Seeing Brody in a mask is concerning considering… he’s not the type. So I wonder what’s going on.” It appears as though fans who watch and adore their favorite personality traits and habits keenly seem to be inclining toward something being off with Malone. On a similar note, another one chimed in with, “umm why does that not even look like brody??? is he good” 

Theories and differing hypotheses kept flowing in about Shane Wiskus too. While one of the fans questioned, “Did Shane not travel?” another one linked it with the possibility of how his absence might be connected to Brody’s masked appearance. They wrote, “I doubt Shane didn’t travel unless he’s sick and exposed Brody. If he actually didn’t travel yesterday, that could be his saving grace. This picture makes me nervous. Brody is not the Covid cautious type who would do this by choice like Nathan Chen did in Beijing.”

Uncertainty was at its peak amongst the fans, who can do nothing but float questions. Until USA Gymnastics reverted with a development. Yes, they did! Under the X post, they added two other images, one of which features a smiling Shane Wiskus! And just like that, a part of the fan guesswork was put to an end. However, why was Brody Malone the lone gymnast wearing a mask? It still awaits further clarity? What do you think can be a potential reason? Let us know below.