What Injury Did US Gymnast Brody Malone Sustain That Once Put His Paris Olympics Dreams in Doubt?

Brody Malone is just one stop away from the Paris Olympics! The 2020 Olympian is slated to appear at the US Olympics Gymnastics Trials in Minneapolis shortly, where his gravity-defying skills will decide whether or not he makes it to his second Olympics. And while the sounds of his impending victory will be the only one thrumming in the Stanford alumni’s mind presently, there was a time when this Olympic dream seemed farfetched to him.

In 2023, injury announced itself like an unforeseen and chaotic storm into Malone’s smooth-sailing career. Trashing his plans for not only the season, it also endangered his Olympic chances. Let’s have a look at what happened.

A botched landing that nearly torpedoed Malone’s Olympic hopes

At the DTB Cup in Germany last year, Brody Malone faced an athlete’s worst terror. The 24-year-old had slipped from the dismount and crashed on the mat, after which he was rushed to the hospital. And as per Team USA, it had resulted in a right knee injury. Or technically speaking- a plateau fracture, followed by tears in his meniscus, posterior cruciate ligament, and lateral collateral ligaments.

Subsequently, Malone underwent a total of three surgeries, with the first performed in Germany. He was then flown back home and admitted to Stanford Hospital for the second surgery. Furthermore, he endured weeks of bedrest, which extended into months before the gymnast could get back on his feet. Moreover, his failed landing from the high bar dismount didn’t earn him a medal around his neck, but it did leave him with a crutch under his arm.

Many speculated that this could perhaps be a career-ending accident for Malone, whose 2024 Olympic plans now seemed pear-shaped. However, the 10-time NCAA champion was not ready to call it quits just so soon. Taking to his Instagram, he posted a video that was captioned, “Learning to walk, round 2.”  Evidently, he had gotten up and dusted himself after the fall, and was now traipsing ahead.

Thus, Brody Malone’s heroics also include a commendable comeback. After a 14-month-long hiatus from the sport, he steadily climbed his way back to the top, recently securing his third US Champion title.

Brody Malone’s comeback before the Olympics is one for the books

Brody Malone agreed that till after six months of recovery, his mobility had remained limited to “small landings or jumping off blocks.” For someone who was about to enter the coveted Olympic year, doing no floor and vault events was a nightmare. Visibly de-spirited, the 2021 and 2022 US champion had mentioned, “I highly doubt I’ll be able to get back on those [by Paris].” 

However, the tides soon turned. January 2024 came in as a bearer of good news, for Brody Malone as he competed in three events at the US Winter Cup, winning bronze in parallel bars.  It was as though this triumph refilled him with gallons of confidence. He stated, “I knew from the beginning if I was going to be in a place to where my leg was healthy enough, then I was definitely going to try to do all or nothing,”

But it still took him two and a half months to get back to the floor and vault routines. Yet, when he did, the results were spellbinding. He wrapped up the recent Xfinity US Championships in Fort Worth with an astronomical score of 172.300. Post this, it was clear that Malone was eyeing that Olympic berth. As per NBC, he said, “The plan right now is to try and get back in the all-around.”

Shortly awaited, his performance at the US Olympic Trials will surely exhibit his form and fitness before the Paris finale. What do you think of his comeback and winning chances? Let us know below.