The Olympic year has officially begun for USA gymnasts as the Winter Cup 2024 kicks off in Louisville, Kentucky, at Freedom Hall. The Senior Men’s Competition Day 1 commenced on Friday, February 23, 2024, at 1:30 PM ET. From powerful veterans to steady rising stars to some iconic moves to some misses, the men set the standards high for Team USA. As Day 1 concludes, let’s explore how it unfolded.

Rotation 1

The event began with an upsetting update as Paul Juda withdrew from the meet. Stephen Nedoroscik began the first rotation of the Winter Cup 2024 with a strong 15.200 on the pommel horse. Despite not executing his most difficult routine, he delivered a commendable performance with scores of 6.5 for difficulty and 8.7 for execution. Brody Malone scored 13.950 on the pommel horse, albeit with a few minor errors during his routine. Veteran Yul Moldauer exhibited excellence with a score of 15.000 on the parallel bars.

According to ‘My USA Gym’, after the conclusion of the first rotation, the event leaders emerged, with Joshua Karnes leading in Floor with a score of 14.450 and Stephen Nedoroscik dominating Pommel with an impressive score of 15.200. Fuzzy Benas takes the lead in Rings with a score of 13.450, and Cameron Bock leads in Vault with a score of 14.200.

Yul Moldauer sets the pace in parallel bars with a strong score of 15.000, and Jeremy Bischoff leads in high bars with a score of 14.000. These early leaders have set a high standard for the competition to follow.

Rotation 2

In rotation 2, Patrick Hoopes started with a score of 14.850 on the pommel horse, narrowly trailing behind Nedoroscik. Shane Wiskus slightly downgraded his ring routine in Rotation 2, earning a score of 13.800. Alex Diab emerged as the event leader with a score of 14.750 on the rings, surpassing his competitors by more than a point. Brody Malone encountered difficulties again during his ring routine in Rotation 2, struggling with his dismount and over-rotating but staying on the podium with a score of 12.850.

Following the second rotation, the competition’s intensity increased as new leaders emerged in each apparatus. Joshua Karnes maintained his lead on the floor with a score of 14.450, while Stephen Nedoroscik remains dominant on Pommel with an impressive score of 15.200. Alex Diab takes charge in Rings with a score of 14.750, while Fuzzy Benas shines in Vault with a leading score of 14.650. Yul Moldauer maintains his excellence on parallel bars with a score of 15.000, and Jeremy Bischoff continues to lead on high bars with a score of 14.000.

Read More: Gymnastics Winter Cup 2024: Brody Malone Makes Spectacular Near-Perfect Comeback on Parallel Bars

In the all-round standings, Cameron Bock emerges as the frontrunner with a cumulative score of 28.500. With each rotation, the competition intensifies, promising an exciting journey for athletes and spectators alike.

Rotation 3

Shane Wiskus began the third rotation with a strong performance, earning a score of 14.400 on Kas 1.5, followed by Cameron Bock’s commendable performance on the High Bar, scoring 13.600. After the conclusion of the third rotation, the competition’s dynamics were captivating as athletes continued to deliver exceptional performances. Joshua Karnes maintained his lead on the floor with a score of 14.450, while Stephen Nedoroscik impressed Pommel with a commanding score of 15.200.

Alex Diab retains his dominance in Rings with a score of 14.750, and Fuzzy Benas excels in Vault, leading with a score of 14.650. Yul Moldauer continued to showcase his prowess on parallel bars, securing the top spot with a score of 15.000, while Jeremy Bischoff maintained his lead on high bars with a score of 14.000. In the all-around standings, Yul Moldauer emerged as the frontrunner with an impressive cumulative score of 42.600. The competition intensifies with each rotation, promising a thrilling culmination as gymnasts vie for victory.

Rotation 4

In the fourth rotation, Shane Wiskus finished with a crisp peach handstand and double front dismount, scoring 14.800 and taking the top spot in the all-around. The top five in the All-Around included Shane Wiskus, who led with a cumulative score of 56.450, followed closely by Yul Moldauer with 55.950 points. Cameron Bock maintained a strong position with a score of 55.700, while Fuzzy Benas followed closely behind with 55.100 points. Taylor Christopulos rounded out the top five with a score of 54.950. As the competition progressed, the battle for the top positions intensified, promising an exhilarating conclusion to the event.

Rotation 5

Heading into the final rotation, the top 5 in the All-Around included Shane Wiskus with 70.300 points, Yul Moldauer with 70.100 points, Cameron Bock with 69.350 points, Taylor Christopulos with 68.700 points, and Donnell Whittenburg with 68.500 points. As the competition reached its climax, these gymnasts demonstrated remarkable skill and consistency throughout the event, setting the stage for an intense and thrilling conclusion.

Rotation 6 and the final standing of the Winter Cup 2024

In the last rotation, Riley Loos stunned with a unique peach to 1 bar mount straight to Healy, earning a score of 14.100. However, Brody Malone faced challenges, finishing with a score of 41.650 on three events, including a fall on the rings. Shane Wiskus sealed his day-1 lead with a score of 14.550, drilling his landings flawlessly. Yul Moldauer finished his day strongly with a score of 14.350 after sticking his Kas 1.5 vault.

The all-round standings after Day 1 saw Shane Wiskus leading with a total score of 84.850, followed closely by Yul Moldauer with 84.450 points. Cameron Bock secured the third position with a score of 82.950, while Taylor Christopulos and Riley Loos rounded out the top five with scores of 81.900 and 81.800, respectively.

In the final standings after Day 1, Shane Wiskus excelled in Floor with a score of 14.550, while Stephen Nedoroscik dominated Pommel with an impressive score of 15.200. Alex Diab led in Rings with a score of 14.750, and Fuzzy Benas showcased his talent in Vault with a leading score of 14.650. Curran Phillips demonstrated exceptional skill on parallel bars, securing the top spot with a score of 15.950 while also leading in high bars with a score of 14.300. The competition on Day 1 showcased outstanding performances across various events, setting the stage for an exciting continuation on Day 2.

The Winter Cup: Senior Men’s Competition Day 2—All-around and Event Finals and Junior Men’s Event Finals—will be held on Sunday, Feb. 25, continuing the excitement of the competition. Meanwhile, the Senior Women’s Competition, all-around, and events are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 23, adding to the anticipation of the event. Who were you thrilled to see on Day 1 of the Winter Cup? Comment below!

Read More: Gymnastics Winter Cup 2024: Shane Wiskus Outshines Reigning All Around Champ Yul Moldauer in Dramatic Start