First although, he’s on the highway with the Athleta Presents Gold Over America Tour alongside an all-star solid 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 affect on the game thus far, 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 begin rehearsals for Gold Over America?
It was a enjoyable little reunion after all of us obtained our little disconnect and breaks in numerous areas. So, it’s enjoyable to return again and see how all people’s doing and what they’ve been doing. We obtained proper into it on day one in every of rehearsals – my physique was sore by the top of it – however it’s enjoyable! This can be a entire totally different thoughts problem, as a result of in gymnastics, we’re at all times attempting to be taught new expertise and put it collectively. However now, we’re studying new expertise, however small expertise and 100 of them in sequence! I feel it’s very enjoyable and it’s a very good, wholesome strategy 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 mirror now on what you completed, how has it set in? And what affect is lastly having that staff Olympic medal going to make?
Once we have been going into the Olympics, for years, we at all times stated, ‘, we wish to convey extra eyes to the game. We wish to present our program is constructing and it may be massive 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, and so they beloved watching that. So, I really feel like we obtained 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 an extended 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 begin it. It has began, and now we have now to maintain the ball rolling.
I took a minute yesterday to return and watch the Group Last. Whenever you all have been going via 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 ability?
That’s the loopy factor. After all, we’re centered on the following ability, the following factor, the following routine, however I might really feel it… like, you possibly can form of simply really feel when every little thing is understanding proper, and every little thing goes to work out proper, ? 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 return collectively. It virtually felt greater than us, just like the universe was simply pushing us that path. 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 you and saying, ‘I wish to be the following Frederick Richard’?
It’s nonetheless unreal, actually. I’m simply somebody, after all, I’m a traditional individual, additionally, I used to be simply obsessive about the game, and now someway I’ve reached the highest and I’ve the ability to really assist these youngsters and affect them and encourage them. In order that half, I’m grateful for. Once I resolve I wish to do one thing, after I really do it, it has an affect. And that’s wonderful. And it’s humorous, after I was rising up, I’d see the images 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 wish to be on a staff 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 staff medal, after which additionally the reception coming house?
Seeing your loved ones is nice, and it’s enjoyable, as a result of they’ve seen the entire journey all the best way from, clearly, start, to every little thing behind the scenes. They actually obtained the win, too. They’ve sacrificed so much, 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 house is sort of a little enjoyable social gathering. It’s just like the individuals that you just 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 have been part of your life – and actually who did say, ‘you’re gonna be an Olympian in the future.’ 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 an Olympian.’
