Rising University of Michigan junior Frederick Richard holds the all-around lead after the opening night of the U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials on Thursday in Minneapolis.
Richard, the reigning world championship all-around bronze medalist, posted the day’s best scores on the floor exercise and high bar to earn 85.6 points, leaving him a half-point ahead of Brody Malone.
“Wasn’t the best meet I’ve ever had, but I got through everything,” said Malone, according to USA Today. “A little rough, little shaky, some nerves out there. I think everyone was a little bit like that. I’m glad to have it under my belt and I’m looking forward to day two.”
Malone, a three-time U.S. all-around champion, took second place on the high bar, second on the vault and fifth on the parallel bars.
Malone is aiming to make his second Olympic appearance.
“For a lot of us, (the U.S. trials are) the biggest competition of our lives,” Malone said, according to USA Today. “All the guys out there that haven’t made the Olympics before, this is their ticket to go. So of course the nerves are going to be going crazy. Even us that have been to the Olympics before, we want to go again. The nerves are still there, for sure.”
Shane Wiskus is in third place in the all-around standings with 84.3 points after tying for third on the floor exercise.
Paul Juda, who placed second on the floor exercise and third on the pommel horse, is fourth all-around with 84.15 points.
Asher Hong rounds out the top five at 83.7 points, as he took second place on the still rings and tied for third on the floor exercise.
The men conclude their competition Saturday, and the two-day scores will be tallied. USA Gymnastics will then select the five-man squad that will head to the Paris Olympics next month, plus alternates. Results at the recent U.S. Championships as well as the results in Minneapolis will be considered.
–Field Level Media