Worrying Gymnastics Community, Yul Moldauer Addresses Concerns Over Xfinity Championships Performance

Oklahoma rising redshirt junior Fuzzy Benas and alumnus Yul Moldauer were set to showcase their talents at the prestigious 2024 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships. This event marks a significant moment for Yul Moldauer as he aims to make his mark on the gymnastics stage once again. However, the 11x NCAA champion took an unexpected hit in his Olympic chase during the Xfinity US National Championships. He stumbled in the fourth round and took a devastating fall. Moldauer, who won the Winter Cup last year, was a top contender for Paris. 

This has sparked significant discussion and worry within the gymnastics community, as Moldauer’s performances are typically met with great anticipation and high expectations. But, there is still hope as Moldauer reassured fans of the extent of his injury. If he makes it to the National Team, this will be his second year since the 2020 Tokyo Games. Now all eyes are on the first American male gymnast to win Pan Ams as he makes his journey towards recovery. 

Yul Moldauer’s fall may result in more than just injury

Recently, gymnast Yul Moldauer reassured fans that he is well on the path to recovery after his unexpected stumble at the XfinityUS Gymnastic Championship Games. Though his injury was not considerable, it did affect some events in which he could have done much better. Moldauer wrote, “Landed on my hip weird which made it hard to lift my leg. Nothing serious though. Just a tweak I had to deal with all night but definitely effected some events.” The former Oklahoma star couldn’t make things work while attempting a Kasamatsu and took a major fall at the pommel horse. It was even more unexpected because Moldauer usually sticks Kasamatsu 1.5 very well. At the event, he finished with a score of 43.25 and provided some stiff competition. However, his fall resulted in major points being docked off. This meant that he slipped to fifth in the rankings which might mean he is in trouble. 

The Xfinity games where Brody Malone won gold all-around are the final step to qualify for the US gymnastics trials in Minneapolis. Here it will be decided which gymnasts get to make the national team heading to Paris. Given Moldauer’s injury and subsequent fall in ranks, it could mean the worst. He was seen grabbing his hips and walking off the floor after the fall. This is not his first injury; he previously faced a significant injury in 2019. He suffered a gruesome knee injury during the dismount, along with an issue with his right elbow, which required him to take six weeks off. Despite these setbacks, he stayed positive and even competed in the Tokyo Games in 2020. This year, we are expecting to see the same magic from him.

NCAA champion’s persistence is one for the books

During his previous injury, Yul Moldauer built a training site at home using a pommel horse, rings, and tumble track, showcasing his dedication to the sport. Though Team USA did not medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games, Moldauer was still an active participant. He even traveled to England as part of the World Championships in 2022. In 2023, he had an excellent year, winning the Winter Cup title in February and the Pan Am title in May. As part of his Olympic preparation, he joined his teammates in France for a training camp.

This dedication shined through during the first three rounds of the Xfinity Games. He received a 14.6 in the floor exercise, the second-highest score of the night, and a 15.4 on the parallel bars, just one point shy of winner Curran Phillips. As Moldauer previously said during the 2023 US Nationals, “It’s a privilege to feel pressure.” Despite facing challenges and unexpected setbacks, Yul Moldauer’s acknowledgment of these concerns and his commitment to learning and growing from every experience demonstrate his dedication. He will continue his best efforts to make it to Paris in August.