After finishing ninth in the men’s all-around final at the World Championships in Rotterdam, Frederick Richard from the U.S. acknowledged the level of competition and its impact on his need for improvement to reach the medal podium.
“The biggest thing is, especially seeing it today, is with this new Code (of Points),” stated the 22-year-old Richard, who previously earned an all-around bronze at the 2023 Worlds in Antwerp. “Us gymnasts are closer than ever in difficulty, and it’s not a question of difficulty. I had the difficulty today to be on the podium. It’s about who’s most consistent and who’s sharpest. So it’s going to be a lot of sharpening, more than trying to get an extra couple of tenths.”
Instead of expressing disappointment over his performance, Richard found the experience to be enlightening as he evaluated both the performance of his competitors in Rotterdam and his own potential.
“I wanted to be on the (medal) podium but I’m happy I left here healthy and went through this process,” said Richard, who had placed 15th all-around at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. “I know there was a lot more potential, and that’s what I’ll go back to the gym (to) sharpen up. But it’s motivating to see these guys handle the pressure, truly succeed on the biggest stage. I’m excited to get back to the gym and get to the standard that I know I can get to.”
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