First although, he’s on the highway with the Athleta Presents Gold Over America Tour alongside an all-star forged together with his Olympic teammates Brody Malone and Paul Juda. We spoke with Richard on day one in every of GOAT rehearsals to atone for Paris, his impression on the game to this point, and what he’s wanting ahead to most on tour.
Let’s begin with this mini-reunion! How was it getting again along with everybody after Paris to start out rehearsals for Gold Over America?
It was a enjoyable little reunion after all of us bought our little disconnect and breaks in several areas. So, it’s enjoyable to return again and see how everyone’s doing and what they’ve been doing. We bought proper into it on day one in every of rehearsals – my physique was sore by the tip of it – nevertheless it’s enjoyable! It is a entire completely different thoughts problem, as a result of in gymnastics, we’re all the time attempting to study new abilities and put it collectively. However now, we’re studying new abilities, however small abilities and 100 of them in sequence! I believe it’s very enjoyable and it’s a superb, wholesome technique to keep lively and get again in form earlier than the season begins whereas having enjoyable with the entire crew.
It was such a particular reminiscence for all of us there watching and overlaying Paris. So for you, having this time to replicate now on what you achieved, how has it set in? And what impression is lastly having that group Olympic medal going to make?
Once we had been going into the Olympics, for years, we all the time stated, ‘you understand, we wish to deliver extra eyes to the game. We wish to present our program is constructing and it may be large and profitable, too.’ After getting the medal, I really feel like we hit that first checkpoint. Individuals cherished our story. I believe at any time when somebody was watching the complete meet begin to end, they by no means forgot about us, as a result of they noticed the teamwork, the sportsmanship and the vitality we confirmed. They had been so supportive of it, they usually cherished watching that. So, I really feel like we bought lots of people loving our tales within the sport.
On this tour, I really feel like all of us have that unconscious feeling to capitalize and maintain pushing us ahead, as a result of we nonetheless have a protracted technique to go. But it surely’s thrilling as a result of we’re in it lastly. We’re not standing outdoors saying we want one thing would occur to start out it. It has began, and now now we have to maintain the ball rolling.
I took a minute yesterday to return and watch the Workforce Closing. Once you all had been going by way of the competitors, did you sense that the medal was going to occur for you guys, or had been you simply laser-focused on the following routine, the following ability?
That’s the loopy factor. After all, we’re targeted on the following ability, the following factor, the following routine, however I might really feel it… like, you’ll be able to type of simply really feel when all the things is figuring out proper, and all the things goes to work out proper, you understand? You continue to have nerves, however you’ll be able to simply really feel the following routine goes to be nice, and the one after that’s going to be nice. It’s all going to return collectively. It nearly felt larger than us, just like the universe was simply pushing us that route. And all we needed to do is simply belief it as a result of our our bodies knew find out how to do it and it’s type of like all of us had been intertwined within the universe. It was serving to us undergo easily, benefit from the second, as a result of it’s going to all work out.
What does it really feel like now to have the following technology, the entire youthful youngsters taking a look at you and saying, ‘I wish to be the following Frederick Richard’?
It’s nonetheless unreal, truthfully. I’m simply somebody, in fact, I’m a standard individual, additionally, I used to be simply obsessive about the game, and now by some means I’ve reached the highest and I’ve the facility to really assist these youngsters and affect them and encourage them. In order that half, I’m grateful for. After I resolve I wish to do one thing, after I really do it, it has an impression. And that’s superb. And it’s humorous, after I was rising up, I’d see the photographs of the final Olympians that gained medals, which was 16 years in the past, and I’m like, ‘dang, I can’t think about what it’s prefer to be on a group like that.’ And now, there’s gonna be that very same image with us 5 at gyms.
What was it like seeing your loved ones after getting the group medal, after which additionally the reception coming residence?
Seeing your loved ones is nice, and it’s enjoyable, as a result of they’ve seen the entire journey all the way in which from, clearly, start, to all the things behind the scenes. They actually bought the win, too. They’ve sacrificed rather a lot, and it’s enjoyable to return again to them with the success and see the delight of their eyes and the tears and all of that. Coming again residence is sort of a little enjoyable occasion. It’s just like the folks that you simply haven’t seen or talked to in 5 years come out to see you. Like my first grade instructor, second grade instructor, third grade instructor – all of the those who had been part of your life – and truthfully who did say, ‘you’re gonna be an Olympian at some point.’ All of them got here again. In order that’s very humorous to see them and assume, ‘I do know the final time you noticed me in individual was after I was 8-years-old, and now you’re taking a look at an Olympian.’
