Frederick Richard is having the time of his life. Not only did he shatter a significant medal drought for Team USA, but he also made history as the youngest American gymnast to snag an individual world medal at the 2023 World Championships. At just 20, Richards became a part of the historic team that helped Team USA break the 16-year-old curse in men’s gymnastics. Winning the team bronze at the French capital, Richard mixed pride with humility as he said, “What I did was awesome, and it’s going to be a part of me forever.” And surely, the young gymnastics phenom means it.

Otherwise, when taking some leisurely time off after a hectic Paris schedule was the easy way out, Richard decided to tread on the road not taken. The 20-year-old gymnast jumped right into the Gold Over America Tour, aiming to further make the audience cherish the Olympic medalist. Even with the hectic demands of the GOAT tour, Frederick Richard seems to have the energy to spare! Before his Boston stop, he made time to return to where it all started—Stoughton High School.

It was on those very mats that Richard’s gymnastics journey began, and despite now being an Olympic medalist, his admiration for his alma mater hasn’t faded one bit. And the feeling was mutual! Much like the Olympian, the Stoughton High School authorities were also elated to have their star pupil back on their premises. Embracing Richard with open arms, the school gave him a key to the city and a championship belt.

For context, a key to the city is a symbolic honor, usually presented to individuals for their contributions to the community. The act is a historical reference from the medieval period when a trusted individual had access to a gated city without any restrictions. Surely, breaking a 15-year-old Olympic curse is something that was enough for the class of 2022 to pass out to receive the major honor. Excited to visit his high school once again, Richard too, shared glimpses of his merry time at Stoughton. 

But Fred Richard is not all about merry times and fun. He has some serious plans for the sport. Currently, the men’s gymnastics scenario is not quite encouraging in the US. With the likes of Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, and more women taking most of the limelight, Richard is looking to bring the attention back to the men. And for that, he is using his social media as a platform.

Boasting over 600,000 followers on Instagram, Richard took to his Instagram story to share a new move he has mastered. The move in question saw Richard circle the bars twice and soaring high into the air. Following it up with a glorious somersault, Richard made a perfect landing. And it is with moves like these that Richard wants to gain more popularity in the sport. So much so that he even risked starvation.

Fred Richard considered skipping food for gymnastics 

Frederick Richard has always dreamt of making it big in gymnastics. Trying his luck in content creation during the lockdown era, Richard got some handsome attention. Soon, he understood the importance of reaching a larger audience and wanted to invest more time in social media. However, the teen gymnast soon realized that only quality content won’t be enough. He will need money to grow his presence on various social media platforms. He has to hire a professional team. But how? 

Well, young Richard had an idea. He had a scholarship and did not have any loans to pay off. Thus, the young student from Stoughton High School took the risk. Richard also skipped meals during this phase to adhere to his social media commitments. In an interview with NPR, Richard stated, “Felt like risk, but I knew like I have full scholarship here, I have no debt. I could stay living off of the dining meals for, for a little longer.” 

Not only did he quickly gain fame through his posts as “frederickflips,” but he also managed to expand the reach of men’s gymnastics to a whole new audience. Amira Hussamy from his content team pointed out that Richard’s mission is to make gymnastics a mainstream sport, and that’s a goal he is determined to achieve. With passion in his eyes and success already by his side thanks to his engaging content, the upcoming journey of Fred Richard is sure to be an intriguing one to watch!