From Learning To Walk, Brody Malone Proceeds To Stick “Cherry on Top” Landing in a Year at Xfinity Championships

March 18th of last year marked a pivotal moment for 5X U.S. champion Brody Malone. A severe injury forced him out of action for about a 14-month break from all-around competition. Yet, in a remarkable journey from recovery to triumph, Malone showcased his skill at the Xfinity Championships in Fort Worth, Texas. Just a year after relearning to walk, he has defied the odds to deliver an exceptional performance. His flawless landing, which he aptly described as the “cherry on top,” captivated the audience. 

Securing an all-around win after perfectly executing his dismount, Malone, wearing a bulky brace and a heap of tape, received a massive cheer from the crowd as he nailed his routines one after another. This awe-inspiring comeback is sure to go down in history. However, the greatest victory lies within Malone’s mind, as he lets the world glimpse his happiness and renewed confidence.

In a recent post on X, NBC Olympics and Paralympics shared Brody Malone’s happiness at having won the Xfinity Games. They captioned the post praising the gymnast, writing, “Brody Malone has a lot to be proud of in his first national championships since 2022. #XfinityChamps.” In the video, Brody Malone expressed his satisfaction and said, “I’m super happy with how tonight went. Just being able to come out, start on the floor was super strong.”

It gave Malone a lot of confidence in executing his floor routine perfectly. Another highlight was also finishing on the high bar. Backing up his statement are his scores of 14.9 on the high bar as well as 14.1 and 14.1 in Pommel Horse and Still Rings respectively, amounting to 86.95 all-around and beating Fred Richard to the top.

This is also his first national medal after 14 months, and the high bar was his “first one back in competition” since his injury. Further adding “to stick a dismount like that, that was just the cherry on top. It was awesome.” This had been especially daunting for Malone as he was injured in his right knee in 2023 in Germany at the DTB Pokal Team Challenge. 

This was the first time since the 2022 Worlds that Malone was able to complete all six routines. Especially nailing the dismount really turned things in Malone’s favor. The final element presents a challenge but makes a lasting impression on judges and scores. What made the games even more exciting to watch was the fact that Malone had stiff competition. World all-around Bronze champion Fred Richard finished his day at 84.350 points. While Donel Whittenburg and Colt Walker tied for third with 83.500 points. This is remarkable considering last year he missed most of the season and received three surgeries. These left him bedridden and he had to essentially learn how to walk again. With his promising performance, Malone’s chances for the Paris Olympics appear back on track.

Brody Malone: Shaping gymnastics expectations for Paris Olympics 2024

Brody Malone is intensifying his training, particularly focusing on enhancing his floor and vault routines, recognizing their criticality for competition success. However, he remains equally dedicated to refining his skills across all events, displaying his relentless pursuit of excellence. Malone said, “My high bar routine that I’m planning to do is an upgraded routine compared to what I was doing before.” His ultimate goal is to bring home an Olympic team medal, which the U.S. men haven’t accomplished since 2008. Malone witnessed his teammates end a near-decade medal drought with a bronze at the 2023 World Championships. While he couldn’t be on the competition floor, his passion and determination have only grown stronger.

In Paris, he aims to reclaim a spot on the medal podium. Malone expressed optimism, stating,“I think it bodes well for what we’ve been doing as a country since Tokyo, trying to build our difficulty to be competitive enough to compete with China and Japan”. Malone remarked further for this year’s Summer Games, “It’s working obviously, we got a bronze medal, so I think we’re setting ourselves up pretty good going into this summer”. Brody Malone is now a top contender for the 2024 Olympics after his stunning performance at the Xfinity Games. Especially since these games are a qualifier for Paris. Malone’s coach Yuri Kouznetsov has been instrumental in his preparation for the elite stage. Kouznetsov has always been all praises for his trainee, saying Malone is “the hardest worker I’ve ever seen in my entire life.”

People often praise Brody Malone for his dedication and humility. Putting his games first before any sort of fame or recognition. Malone is expected to put this kind of single-minded focus into his Olympics preparation as well. In the past, he also moved from Stanford University to Sarasota, Florida to train at the EVO Gymnastics. This strategy allowed him access to a full-time therapist and trainer that sped up his preparation. Despite his injury, Malone has been able to come back and is determined to help the US team win their first medal since 2008. As he stated, “You never know how bad you really want something until it gets taken away from you”. We are sure Malone’s resilience will carry him all the way to Paris to make this dream come true.