Frederick Richard has all the makings of a quintessential gymnast poised to follow in the footsteps of legends like Simone Biles, Nadia Comaneci and more. That is such a cliche statement to say about someone, right? But then, that might be the case with this Tiktoker turned Olympian. YUp. Humble beginnings were the name of the game for the little wunderkind. His mother already knew that her son was about to become someone truly athletic even before he was born. Just how did Anne-Marie Richard realize this? She explained the reasons in a recent tête-à-tête/interview.

“I knew he was going to be a very active child from my stomach, from my womb,” Anne Marie Richard said in an interview with npr. “He got out and was as active as I predicted. He was doing flips in his crib.” That was a hilarious admission by Richard’s mother, but also showed just how naturally gifted he is. That has been visible all throughout his career as a professional gymnast.

Richard played a huge role in ending the US men’s 15-year medal drought at the Olympics. For the 20-year-old Olympic rookie, this was nothing short of a miracle. But then he could be a part of another such moment soon. In a surprising turn of events, Frederick Richard finds himself representing the US in individual all-around finals. But before that, it’s important to understand how his mother predicted his career even before he was born.

It took Richard only 4 years after birth to showcase his gymnastics talent. As his father Carl revealed, a coach had already told the parents to start saving up to send their child to the Olympics so innate talent and magnetism? Check. So, naturally, they entered Richard to a nearby gymnastics gym. He first began competing at an elite level in 2019 – at just the age of 15. 

From the get-go, it was clear that Richard was something special. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed his ascent by a year, but that proved to be a boon in his TikTok career, where he amassed quite a sizeable chunk of followers. However, Richard’s biggest breakthrough came in 2023, when he first created history.

Frederick Richard looks to create history at the Paris Olympics 

Frederick Richard’s bronze medal in the 2023 World Championship made him the youngest US men’s gymnast to win a medal since 2010. However, that wasn’t the last time that Richard made history. By helping the men’s team win the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics, Richard became the first African-American in almost 30 years to win a medal in this sport. Impressive, huh? Certainly, history and Richard go side by side.

However, Frederick Richard will also be competing in all-around finals. Could he bring another medal home for the Americans? That would certainly help Richard in realizing his lifelong dream of turning men’s gymnastics into a nationwide phenomenon. Richard’s efforts have already given positive attention to this sport. However, a win would cement its resurgence in the US and tilt the scales in their favor. 

So, in a way, history still beckons for Frederick Richard. Could the 20-year-old do the unthinkable and win a medal in the all-around finals? The occasion, razzmatazz and fanfare would certainly be worth seeing if that happens.