ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Local 4 has been getting to know some athletes with Michigan connections, such as Frederick Richard, who is heading to the Olympics with huge goals.
Not only does Richard want to win gold in Paris, but the 20-year-old University of Michigan gymnastics phenom also wants the 2024 games to be the start of his story as he aims to be the best ever to do it.
“I was a dangerous kid,” said Richard. “I used to flip off of the deck while climbing off the top of the roof of the house. My family was like, ‘He’s going to kill himself, let’s put him in a sport.’”
What started as his parents trying to tame a young daredevil led Richard to become one of the world’s leading gymnasts.
“I would say I believed it as I’ve been a very positive thinker,” Richard said. “Plan big, train hard, and you’ll get there.”
The athlete known as “Flips” is turning the sport upside down with his dynamic ability as he finished first all-around at the U.S. Olympic trials.
“The competition before, I got second, I mean I did pretty good, but I like first a little better,” Richard said. “There’s always another level to go to, so I just like pushing myself in the gym.”
Being the top gymnast on Team USA is the high point of his young career, but what happened in his last world competition is part of what’s motivating him to head to Paris.
“I ended up at the last event, falling on the high bar and getting third at the world championships, but it’s exciting to now kind of get that next chance to show what I’ve learned at the gym, to show what I gained and all of the knowledge and experience and try to use that in this bigger field to make some bigger successes,” Richard said.
Richard says his past failures motivated him not to be complacent. He is known around the world because he has built an online following, complete with his own logo.
“My dad saw this picture I posted on Instagram, and he was like, ‘That’s a logo right there that can be turned into a logo,’” Richard said. “My dad studies. He’s seen Michael Jordan do it and other big brands, and he’s like, ‘I know you want to be the best in your sport, I know you want to build something, this is how we start.’”
Richard aspires to be the goat Michael Jordan of gymnastics, and at only 20 years old, it’s possible.
“I’m going to be in this sport for at least another two cycles,” Richard said. “I look at Simone Biles on the women’s side and how she’s been destroying it makes me want to leave a legacy in the sport.”
The next step to becoming a global sensation for Richard is chasing gold in Paris.
“I love my friends and family and all of the friends that are with me, but I’m not doing this for all of them as I am doing this for me,” Richard said. “Yeah, I’m #1 in the country, but I’ve never been called #1 in the world. That’s right there in front of me, so let’s get that.”
Richard and the rest of the men’s gymnastics team will start competing this Saturday (July 27).