There has been ongoing concern that gymnastics, as a sport, struggles to maintain its relevance once the Olympic spotlight fades. Outside of the Olympic Games, where it captures global attention and admiration, gymnastics often finds it challenging to sustain the same level of interest and visibility. However, a revolution is taking place in the men’s gymnastics world as Team USA’s rising star Fred Richard gets ready for the Olympics in Paris. Richard, who has a sizable social media following of a million followers combined, has the potential to completely change the sports landscape by using his online persona.

While Richard’s growth in gymnastics has been impressive, his path goes beyond physical skill; it includes a mission to use digital interaction to popularize and revolutionize men’s gymnastics. Richard started posting videos on TikTok during the COVID outbreak and quickly amassed an extensive fan base. With eyes on Olympic gold in Paris, Richard also plans to bring greater recognition to gymnastics.

Fred Richard harnessing social media to elevate gymnastics

Richard takes a different approach to gymnastics outside of the gym. The 20-year-old has over 900,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram. His videos frequently feature him learning new talents or taking on friendly challenges with athletes from different sports, highlighting his charming nature. “Social media really provides a big opportunity for a sport like mine, to let more people know me, my story, and my sport,“ he told the Time. “I really wanted to show the athleticism gymnasts have.” This tactic not only raises his fame but also aids in spreading awareness of gymnastics among other groups.

His social media presence is an integral element of his larger mission to promote gymnastics as a sport, not only for the sake of fame. While Fred’s methods may not be something most Olympic athletes-in-training would feel comfortable with, Michigan head coach Yuan Xiao is extremely supportive of his approach. Xiao believes these methods not only hone Fred’s skills but also help make gymnastics more relevant as a sport.

“He wants more people to know what we are doing—it’s like a second job for him. He’s like a cat—if you throw a cat in the air, it always finds a way to land. So I 100% support him. He knows his limits,” Xiao had said.

Awaiting Olympic qualification at the Trials later this month, Fred Richards has already declared his goal of winning Olympic gold in Paris. This ambition was further solidified by his iconic performance at the 2023 World Championships, where he became the youngest American male, and the first American athlete since 2010, to earn an all-around medal. With his eyes on gold this year, Richard also has his plans set for more Olympic games.

“I’m looking to go minimum three, maybe four. Gymnastics is a lifestyle right now. I think I’m gonna keep doing this for a while. 2028 is going to be huge. L.A. Olympics, that’s the one that I want to be destroying everybody at. I got four years to really give everything to the sport,” Richard told Fox News Digital.

To further his mission of making gymnastics more popular and inclusive, Richard has exciting plans for the fall: joining Simone Biles and other top gymnasts on her highly anticipated “Gold Over America” tour. This tour, which celebrates the accomplishments and talents of elite gymnasts, will provide Richards with a platform to showcase his skills and connect with fans nationwide.