Hong, Richard and Young Bring Home the Big Wins in The World University Games Advancing them to The Men’s National Team
The sound stunned Fred Richard. The energy too.
Walking into the arena for the men’s gymnastics competition at the World University Games in Chengu, China, earlier this month, the 19-year-old Richard wasn’t prepared for what he saw.
“It’s filled with people filled to the brink,” said Richard, a sophomore at Michigan and the reigning men’s NCAA all-around champion. “So it’s like 10,000 people plus and they’re all cheering.”
The young and incredibly talented Fred Richard, a 19-year-old who recently finished a stellar freshman season representing the University of Michigan men’s gymnastics team, winning both the 2023 NCAA and Big Ten all-around titles, among others. He’s also a member of the U.S. senior men’s national team.
“Frederick Flips” – as he’s know across social – is making a splash in both NCAA and elite, but he has one major goal in mind: bringing home an Olympic gold medal.
“The end goal is bringing that gold medal, to bring that gold medal home is where my eyes are set, which is a pretty big goal.” Richard said. “It’s big, but if I could bring [home] a gold medal, and represent Michigan, represent all the people who have put so much work into helping me get where I am today, that’s when I’m gonna feel complete, but until then, I’ll be satisfied but always pushing.”
Asher Hong won his first men’s national gymnastics title on Saturday night, posting a two-day total of 170.930 to edge college teammate Khoi Young and Fred Richard.
The 19-year-old Hong, a sophomore at Stanford, is the first teenager to win a men’s all-around national championship since John Orozco in 2012.
Hong, who finished third behind two-time national champion Brody Malone a year ago, led after the opening night on Thursday but fell behind early in the finals after a so-so performance on the pommel horse. He gained momentum as the meet went on, taking the lead for good with a brilliant 15.099 on still rings as Richard and 2017 national champion Yul Moldauer faltered after the three began the finals separated by less than 0.2.
Khoi Young, who was in fourth after the first day, climbed the standing to take home the silver with a combined score of 169.455. The 20-year-old, who finished second on vault and pommel horse, narrowly edged out the reigning NCAA all-around champion, Fred Richard. The University of Michigan star finished in third with a total score of 169.311.
Hong, Young and Richard will be joined by Paul Juda and Yul Moldauer on the U.S. team at the FIG 2023 Artistic World Championships this fall in Antwerp, Belgium.
The five-man team that will represent the U.S. at the world championships in Belgium this fall will be announced Sunday morning. The Americans are trying to return to the podium at a major international event for the first time since 2014.
