The Xfinity US Gymnastics Championships are proving the excitement wasn’t misplaced. With the national team trials still a month away, Fort Worth is the final stepping stone before the journey to Paris begins in Minneapolis. While most gymnasts are making the most of the opportunity, former Oklahoma star Yul Moldauer faced unexpected adversity, leaving his fans in shambles after the first day.

After the first three rotations, the two-time World Championships medalist was leading the pack. However, by the end of rotation four, he had dropped down the list thanks to disappointing performance on both the pommel horse. However, more setbacks were waiting in rotation six, and fans couldn’t help but feel the pangs of anxiety.

Yul Moldauer takes a stumble

A recent post by Scott Bergman on X highlighted how things took a different turn for Moldauer during his vault event. Attempting a Kasamatsu, Moldauer couldn’t make things work and took a major fall. “Wow – I can’t remember the last time Yul didn’t basically stick a Kas 1 1/2.” reads the caption of the post as it goes on to note that the gymnast might be looking at a stingy hip injury.

The Olympian raked up 43.25 points after the first three events and raised the bar significantly for his opponents. However, during his routine on the pommel horse, Moldauer spun off, resulting in a major point cut. After the disaster at the vault, Yul slipped down to fifth by the end of the day, and fans are scrambling for an update.

Fans fanatical after Moldauer’s tragic result

Considering how Moldauer won the all-around gold medal at the 2024 Pacific Rim Championships, fans were understandably looking forward to seeing how the 27-year-old bolstered his claims for a spot in the national team en route to the Paris Olympics. With his snag, fans are anxious to see how Moldauer recovers from the setback. One fan took to the social media platform to pray, “YUL BABY PLEASE BE OKAY“.

Noting how Yul left the arena after the fall, one fan commented, “Oh no Yul looks like he’s in pain!” Considering how the team trials aren’t even a month away, any injury at this point would be a disaster for aspiring Olympians, and the comment reflects the collective concern perfectly.

However, it’s not just Moldauer who’s looking at a possible tryst with injuries. Over the last few days, Shilese Jones’ shoulder injury has been raising serval eyebrows after her labrum issue flared up after the Core Hydration Classic. Referring to that, Amanda urged the country’s apex gymnastics body to consider investing in bubble wraps. “I’m gonna need @USAGym to invest in bubble wrap.” commented the gymnastics follower.

For a gymnast to lose sight of the prize can be a troublesome affair, especially with 2024 being the year of the Olympics. No wonder Moldauer’s stutter isn’t sitting well with his fans, who had hoped to see him retain his momentum after the Pacific Rim Championships. “I’m so sad for Yul he started off so strong on his first 3 events and just fell apart after,” commented another user.

“Goddamnit.” is all Suzanne could spill on the keyboards as she too couldn’t hide the sinking feeling in her guts.

Do you believe the injury would take a toll on Yul’s upcoming fixture at the team trials? Or do you think he will bounce back keeping up with the high expectations? Share your thoughts with us below!