Being the first U.S. men’s gymnast to win a medal in over a decade, Fred Richard is breaking barriers and pushing boundaries to create representation in the sport.
“In the U.S., we hear all this stuff about the women’s side of gymnastics winning medals and succeeding,” Richard says. “But you know, the men’s side is growing.”
U.S. women’s gymnastics have received more attention in the media. According to AP News, there are about 12,000 men and boys registered in USA Gymnastics, compared to 138,000 women and girls.
“Most males aren’t choosing aren’t choosing gymnastics when they first choose a sport,” says Richard. “You know, they’re thinking football, basketball, soccer [and] sports like that.”
The lack of acknowledgement for men’s gymnastics shows up dramatically in the athletic world. In the 1970s, more than 150 universities had men’s gymnastics programs. Now, that number has dwindled to 12 Division I teams including the University of Michigan, where Richard continued to pursue gymnastics.
But despite the odds, the 20-year-old Stoughton, Mass., native continues to highlight the growing potential of the next generation and the importance of representation, especially as a Black male gymnast. Outside of recognition for male gymnastics, the sport also comes with financial challenges. But Richard says living near a gym and having supportive parents allowed him to succeed in the sport.
“It was an environment where it definitely wouldn’t have been easy without the people around me,” he says. “I might have felt excluded at times, but I did have people in my life supporting me enough to get to this high level.”
Starting gymnastics at the age of four, Richard’s initial approach to gymnastics started off as just for fun, but it gradually transitioned to him training seriously as he realized what could be possible for men’s gymnastics.
“I started looking up to my future self,” he says. “There was no one on the Olympic stage that looked like me or lived [the] lifestyle that I wanted to live. So, I started imagining, What will future Frederick Richard look like? What will 20 year old me look like? and that's the person that kind of inspired me, that's what got me excited.”
Already hitting 25 cities across the country, Richard will showcase his talent along with olympians Sime Biles, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Hezly Rivera, Paul Juda, Brody Malone, Fred Richard, Joscelyn Roberson, Shane Wiskus and Yul Moldauer in Gold Over America on Sunday, Oct. 27. The show starts at 7 p.m. To buy tickets and get more information, visit goldoveramericatour.com/goat.
For more updates about Cleveland, sign up for our Cleveland Magazine Daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox six times a week.
Cleveland Magazine is also available in print, publishing 12 times a year with immersive features, helpful guides and beautiful photography and design.
