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 influence on the game up to now, and what he’s trying 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 acquired our little disconnect and breaks in several areas. So, it’s enjoyable to come back again and see how all people’s doing and what they’ve been doing. We acquired proper into it on day one in every of rehearsals – my physique was sore by the tip of it – but it surely’s enjoyable! This can be a complete totally 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 feel it’s very enjoyable and it’s a very good, wholesome strategy to keep energetic 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 masking Paris. So for you, having this time to mirror now on what you completed, how has it set in? And what influence is lastly having that workforce Olympic medal going to make?
Once we have been going into the Olympics, for years, we all the time mentioned, ‘you realize, we wish to convey extra eyes to the game. We wish to present our program is constructing and it may be huge and profitable, too.’ After getting the medal, I really feel like we hit that first checkpoint. Folks beloved our story. I feel each time somebody was watching the total meet begin to end, they by no means forgot about us, as a result of they noticed the teamwork, the sportsmanship and the power we confirmed. They have been so supportive of it, they usually beloved watching that. So, I really feel like we acquired 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 preserve pushing us ahead, as a result of we nonetheless have a protracted strategy to go. But it surely’s thrilling as a result of we’re in it lastly. We’re not standing exterior saying we want one thing would occur to start out it. It has began, and now we’ve to maintain the ball rolling.
I took a minute yesterday to return and watch the Group Closing. Once you all have been going by the competitors, did you sense that the medal was going to occur for you guys, or have been you simply laser-focused on the following routine, the following talent?
That’s the loopy factor. In fact, we’re centered on the following talent, the following factor, the following routine, however I might really feel it… like, you possibly can form of simply really feel when every part is understanding proper, and every part goes to work out proper, you realize? You continue to have nerves, however you possibly can 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 come back collectively. It nearly felt larger than us, just like the universe was simply pushing us that course. And all we needed to do is simply belief it as a result of our our bodies knew the best way to do it and it’s form of like all of us have 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 era, 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, after all, I’m a traditional individual, additionally, I used to be simply obsessive about the game, and now in some way I’ve reached the highest and I’ve the ability to truly assist these youngsters and affect them and encourage them. In order that half, I’m grateful for. Once I determine I wish to do one thing, after I truly do it, it has an influence. And that’s superb. And it’s humorous, after I was rising up, I’d see the photographs of the final Olympians that received 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 workforce 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 workforce medal, after which additionally the reception coming dwelling?
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, beginning, to every part behind the scenes. They actually acquired the win, too. They’ve sacrificed quite a bit, and it’s enjoyable to come back again to them with the success and see the satisfaction of their eyes and the tears and all of that. Coming again dwelling is sort of a little enjoyable social gathering. It’s just like the individuals 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 folks that have been part of your life – and truthfully who did say, ‘you’re gonna be an Olympian sooner or later.’ 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.’
