The men’s gymnastics finals are underway at the Bercy Arena, and Paul Juda has been making a remarkable debut. He kicked off his performance with an incredible vault routine, scoring a solid 14.66—a perfect start for Team USA. Although his stint on the high bar didn’t go as planned, he still executed an impressive routine. Team USA hasn’t topped the podium since 2008, but Juda and the rest of the Final Five are determined to change that.

As he stepped up for his last event of the day, his parents held their breath in the stands. The pommel horse is known to be one of Team USA’s trickiest events, but Juda appeared confident. His near-perfect routine scored 13.90, a great score for both him and the team. Amidst the rousing cheers of the crowd, Juda flawlessly dismounted from the apparatus. As he celebrated, his parents mimicked the same expression with teary eyes. What a day for Paul Juda!

Paul Juda stepped up at the men’s gymnastics team finals

Bercy Arena was a fitting setting for Team USA’s climb up the podium. The Final Five had just one goal on their mind, to win an Olympic team medal. And so, every single one of them put their best foot forward on Monday, July 29. Paul Juda was the first to step on the mat during the second rotation of the team finals. Amidst the rambunctious crowd sat his parents, Jozef Juda and Ewa Bacher. As the gymnast was busy giving the performance of his life, his parents were anxiously cheering him on.

After nailing his vault routine, in true Juda fashion, he celebrated with his hands up in the air as he walked off. Eager to keep that momentum going, he stepped up to the high bars for the fifth rotation. Even though he executed his routine well, it wasn’t good enough. However, he will get the chance to redeem himself on the apparatus in the individual all-around event later. He then moved on to the floor, and his perfect execution of tumbling landings earned an impressive 14.20. Looks like Juda is back in the game!

His stellar performance on the pommel horse, an apparatus he scored the highest in at the Olympic Trials, helped secure a good score for Team USA. With a few more great routines from the rest of the squad, the Final Five had finally done what they intended to. For the first time in 16 years, the men’s gymnastics team won a team Olympic medal. The first-generation American’s exception performance on Day 1 helped catapult the team to the finals, and with this he will soon be making his way to the individual all-around.

He almost let go of his Olympic dream before making it to the Trials

The son of Polish immigrants was one among 20 Olympic hopefuls at the Target Center back in June. He had already missed out on making his way to his first Olympic berth during the 2021 Olympic Trials. But he was confident that this time he would be able to turn things around. The thrilling atmosphere in the stadium only pushed him to give it his all. After 2 days of contention, America was eagerly waiting to find out who would represent them in Paris.

Paul Juda waited backstage, struggling to keep his emotions at bay. However, as soon as they announced the Final Five, he couldn’t hold it in anymore. He had always dreamed of making it to the Summer Games. “I’m really glad that I wrote on my whiteboard: become an Olympian,” he stated amidst deafening cheers from the fans. But somewhere along the way, he noticed he hadn’t achieved a few other goals. “I was starting to think if I should erase the one that said Olympian because maybe it won’t come true.” If only he knew back then what he knows now!

However, he ended things on a high note, “But I going home and I’m gonna put a massive check mark on there.” He has clinched his first Olympic medal, and will have another chance to shine on the mat at the French capital. He has made it through to the all-around finals on July 31 at the Bercy Arena. Paul Juda’s parents made the trip to the French capital to watch their son live out his dreams. Will they see him claim another Olympic medal as his own?