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 considered one of GOAT rehearsals to compensate for Paris, his affect on the game to this point, 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 everyone’s doing and what they’ve been doing. We acquired proper into it on day considered one of rehearsals – my physique was sore by the top of it – nevertheless it’s enjoyable! This can be a entire totally different thoughts problem, as a result of in gymnastics, we’re at all times making an attempt 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 option 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 protecting Paris. So for you, having this time to mirror now on what you all completed, how has it set in? And what affect is lastly having that group Olympic medal going to make?
After we have been going into the Olympics, for years, we at all times stated, ‘you recognize, we wish to deliver 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 cherished our story. I believe 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 cherished 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 an extended option to go. However it’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 have now to maintain the ball rolling.
I took a minute yesterday to return and watch the Staff Closing. Whenever 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 subsequent routine, the subsequent ability?
That’s the loopy factor. After all, we’re targeted on the subsequent ability, the subsequent factor, the subsequent routine, however I may really feel it… like, you’ll be able to sort of simply really feel when the whole lot is understanding proper, and the whole lot goes to work out proper, you recognize? You continue to have nerves, however you’ll be able to simply really feel the subsequent routine goes to be nice, and the one after that’s going to be nice. It’s all going to come back collectively. It virtually felt greater 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 methods to do it and it’s sort 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 subsequent era, the entire youthful children you and saying, ‘I wish to be the subsequent Frederick Richard.’
It’s nonetheless unreal, truthfully. I’m simply somebody, in fact, 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 facility to really assist these children 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 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 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 the whole lot behind the scenes. They actually acquired the win, too. They’ve sacrificed loads, 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 residence is sort of a little enjoyable get together. 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 trainer, second grade trainer, third grade trainer – all of the people who have 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 an Olympian.’
