2x World Champion Fred Richard Announces Ambitious Long-Term Goal for Gymnastics, Aims to Leave the Sport ‘In a Much Better Place’

The United States has been a trailblazer in presenting the world with some of the most iconic names in gymnastics, with names like Simone Biles and Gabby Douglas leading the pack. However, on the other hand, the male roster in the US gymnastics has not been able to taste the same success as their female counterparts. This is where the 19-year-old sensation Fred Richard comes in, who has already achieved significant success in his career.

The athlete is at the beginning of his journey, and according to his remarks, he aims to enhance the landscape of men’s gymnastics. The aforementioned claims were made by Richard during a recent interview, where the Boston native also pondered his significant future objectives.

Fred Richard is poised to conquer the world

On Monday, Fred Richard sat down for a chit-chat session with retired Olympic gymnast Sam Oldham of England, and the two discussed men’s gymnastics. When questioned about his future plans, Richard replies, “The goal is not for me to just be a content creator and do these crazy things, but to be the best gymnast of all time while also being successful in the sports media world. I want to be someone who leaves men’s gymnastics in a much better place than it is right now.”

The Massachusetts-based athlete also added that he wants to promote gymnastics, so there are lots of other things that he needs to do other than “just performing,” and for that, he said he’ll be doing TV shows and movies. He also affirmed that a decade later, he wants to be in a totally different place than he is now as a men’s gymnast. Fred Richard is also eyeing the Olympics and is hopeful that the competition is going to do the trick for him.

The Olympics are only the starting line for him

The 2023 U.S. Championships high bar champion confirmed that gymnastics means more to him than just the Olympics, as it is just the beginning of his career. “Olympics kind of feels like step number one in this journey,” he states while talking about the multisport event. It kind of reflects his confidence, echoed by recent stellar performances showcasing his undeniable talent.

During the 2023 world championships, Fred Richard became the first gymnast from the United States after 2010 to clinch a world gymnastics championship all-around medal. Furthermore, he also became the youngest American male gymnast to stand atop the podium in the individual discipline. With all that in place, the 19-year-old will be an athlete to watch out for at the Olympics.

Read More: Training for Paris Olympics 2024, Fred Richard Opens Up About His Goals for Gymnastics: “Never Satisfied“