[ad_1]
OUR EMILY MAHA WAS THERE IN STOUGHTON FOR ALL OF IT. I’LL EXPLAIN THE RULES. IT WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME. IT WAS AMAZING. THE PRESSURE’S ON JUST LIKE THE OLYMPICS. YOU GOT ONE CHANCE. IMAGINE TRAINING. LET’S GO WITH AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION. COME ON, YOU GUYS CAN GO LONGER THAN THAT. USE YOUR MUSCLES. IT WAS COMPETITION AT ITS FINEST. AT GYM XFINITY, LED BY OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALIST AND STOUGHTON NATIVE FREDERICK RICHARD. HE INSPIRED ME BY LETTING ME KNOW THAT I CAN STILL MAKE IT, EVEN THOUGH, LIKE, NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE AT THE SAME LEVEL, YOU CAN STILL MAKE IT IF YOU TRY YOUR HARDEST. IT’S LESSONS LIKE THOSE STICK YOU STAY IN, YOU DON’T STICK, YOU’RE OUT. THE 20 YEAR OLD OLYMPIAN HOPES STICK EVEN LONGER THAN THE LANDING. THIS GROUP IS GOOD AND IT WAS HIS DREAMS COMING TRUE WHEN RICHARD AND HIS TEAM STOOD ON THAT OLYMPIC PODIUM, TAKING HOME BRONZE. U.S. MEN’S GYMNASTICS FIRST OLYMPIC MEDAL IN 16 YEARS, MAKING IT OFFICIAL IS CRAZY. AND YOU’RE LIKE, THIS IS CEMENTED IN HISTORY FOREVER. THIS WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF ME. I GOT THE OLYMPIC MEDAL JUST SITTING IN MY POCKET RIGHT NOW. THAT MEDAL MAKING THE ROUNDS EXACTLY WHERE RICHARD WANTS IT TO BE. I PUT THIS MEDAL IN EVERY KID’S HAND HERE, AND IT’S LIKE IT’S BIGGER THAN ME. SPREAD. IT MIGHT GET A LITTLE DAMAGED FROM ALL THE HANDS TOUCHING IT, BUT I THINK IT’S BETTER THAN IT BEING LOCKED AWAY IN A CASE AND JUST NEVER BEING TOUCHED AGAIN. AND WHILE YOU WILL NEVER SEE ME IN THE OLYMPICS, IT’S A DIFFERENT STORY FOR MY COACH HERE. 2028 IS I CAN FEEL IT. IT’S LIKE YOU HAVE YOU KNOW, WHEN IT’S YOUR TIME AND I FEEL LIKE THAT WILL BE MY PEAK. HOPEFULLY NOT ACTUALLY. HOPEFULLY I’M JUST LIKE A BEAST, BUT I STILL HAVE MORE TO GO IN
Olympic bronze medalist Frederick Richard inspires Massachusetts gymnasts in Stoughton
Updated: 6:50 PM EDT Aug 22, 2024
Frederick Richard, the Massachusetts native who won a bronze medal at the Olympics in Paris, returned to his hometown gym on Thursday to visit with young gymnasts.”It was the experience of a lifetime; it was amazing,” said Jessica Bandau, one of the young gymnasts.Richard, 20, spent part of the day encouraging young athletes and leading a training session at Gymfinity Sports Academy on Stoughton’s Turnpike Street.”He inspired me by letting me know that I can still make it even though everybody’s not going to be at the same level, you can still make it, if you try your hardest,” said Taylor Billings. Richard’s dreams came true when he, Worcester native Stephen Nedoroscik and two other teammates stood on the Olympic podium to be awarded the bronze in the Team All-Around competition in Paris. It marked the first Olympic medal for U.S. men’s gymnastics in 16 years.”Making it official is crazy; you’re like, ‘This is cemented in history, and forever this will always be a part of me,'” Richard reflected.Richard made sure the medal passed through the hands of the young gymnasts he was coaching on Thursday. “It might get a little damaged from all the hands touching it, but it’s better than it being locked in a case and never being touched again,” Richard said.Richard is scheduled to return to the Boston area in October for performances of Team USA Gymnastics’ Gold Over America Tour and a celebration in his honor in Stoughton. He’s also looking ahead to what will come after the tour: years of preparation for the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles. “2028, I can feel it,” he said. “You know when it’s your time, and I know it will be my peak,” he said.
Frederick Richard, the Massachusetts native who won a bronze medal at the Olympics in Paris, returned to his hometown gym on Thursday to visit with young gymnasts.
“It was the experience of a lifetime; it was amazing,” said Jessica Bandau, one of the young gymnasts.
Richard, 20, spent part of the day encouraging young athletes and leading a training session at Gymfinity Sports Academy on Stoughton’s Turnpike Street.
“He inspired me by letting me know that I can still make it even though everybody’s not going to be at the same level, you can still make it, if you try your hardest,” said Taylor Billings.
Richard’s dreams came true when he, Worcester native Stephen Nedoroscik and two other teammates stood on the Olympic podium to be awarded the bronze in the Team All-Around competition in Paris. It marked the first Olympic medal for U.S. men’s gymnastics in 16 years.
“Making it official is crazy; you’re like, ‘This is cemented in history, and forever this will always be a part of me,'” Richard reflected.
Richard made sure the medal passed through the hands of the young gymnasts he was coaching on Thursday.
“It might get a little damaged from all the hands touching it, but it’s better than it being locked in a case and never being touched again,” Richard said.
Richard is scheduled to return to the Boston area in October for performances of Team USA Gymnastics’ Gold Over America Tour and a celebration in his honor in Stoughton. He’s also looking ahead to what will come after the tour: years of preparation for the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“2028, I can feel it,” he said. “You know when it’s your time, and I know it will be my peak,” he said.
Source link
