“This is our moment,” resonates deeply within the USA men’s gymnastics team as they face a 40-year quest for Olympic gold. The journey has spanned multiple generations and team iterations, with athletes like Shane Wiskus, Asher Hong, Fred Richards, Yul Moldauer, and Stephen Nesoroscik vying for a coveted spot on the Olympic roster. Each athlete brings personal triumphs and aspirations, united by a shared goal: to end the prolonged drought and secure gold. 

Despite this, uncertainties remain over their ability to clinch Olympic gold after decades of near misses. Their path to glory is challenged by a resurgent Japanese team, heightening pressure as the Americans prepare for the Paris Olympics 2024. The team’s unity and individual strengths are crucial to overcoming formidable opposition and ending the decades-long curse. 

Japan’s star gymnast Daiki Hashimoto set to make a comeback after recovery 

In a recent interview with the Japan Times on June 22, 2024, gymnastics champion Daiki Hashimoto assured the Japanese fans that his finger injury was recovering well. Hashimoto, who is the 2x defending world champion, damaged a ligament in the middle finger of his right hand. The injury was sustained in the last competition before the Games. However, after training for the past two weeks, he said he’s feeling at about 60% fitness. Daiki said, “I think it’s looking good, but my finger still isn’t 100% so I can’t let my guard down.” He added, “On top of that, I’m feeling some fatigue after practicing for the first time in a while”.

Daiki is hoping to work through that next week and get some training at the camp the week after, just before the team leaves for Paris. Hashimoto is hoping for a second AA win like Kohei Uchimura. Hashimoto claimed the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, which was postponed due to the pandemic. He finished ahead of China’s Xiao Ruoteng and Russia’s Nikita Nagornyy to secure the victory. From the USA men’s gymnastics point of view, this does not bode well. The USA men’s gymnastics team has been unable to secure an Olympic gold medal since 1984, which some refer to as a curse. 

In 2021, during the Tokyo Games, the team finished 4th overall with a score of 256.761. Brody Malone and Samuel Mikulak earned berths in the individual all-around finals with ranks 11 and 14, whereas, during the 2016 Olympics in Rio, they finished 5th overall with a score of 268.560. Sam Mikulak again was a standout gymnast with a score of 14.866 alongside Chris Brooks who scored 15.325. The previous performances though disappointing show an upward trajectory and hopefully matters will come to a head this year. 

Both men’s gymnastics teams are focused on the Paris Olympics 

This year’s gymnastics team features a band of very talented players who have proven their worth across several championships. Khoi Young even emphasized the team’s unity this time around saying, “The main thing that propelled us to the podium was the bond we shared as a team,” right after the 2023 World Championship success.

Their athletic trainer, Jamie Broz, gave captain Chris Brooks a care package filled with inspiration for their journey to Paris. Hashimoto earned a silver medal as part of Japan’s team, finishing behind champions Russia. He expressed confidence in their preparations for the Paris Games. Reflecting on their recent practice session, he noted, “We all practiced today, and we were able to work on the things that our coach gave us to work on”. 

At this year’s trials, athletes with over 70 combined World and Olympic medals vie for spots on the team. On top of the rankings are Fred Richards and Brody Malone. Malone is the 2022 and 2021 national champion. He won his third title at the 2024 Xfinity Games after recovering from multiple leg injuries. “With everything I’ve gone through, to be able to come back, make a comeback like I have and be competitive enough to be on the top again, it feels amazing,” Malone said. Fred Richards, a two-time world bronze medalist, is gearing up for the upcoming season. He aims to leverage his international experience and competitive edge to pursue further accolades.