Gymnast Brody Malone recovers from severe knee injury to earn Olympic spot: ‘It’s all God’

The US males’s gymnastics workforce is about for the Paris Olympics after the five-man lineup (and two substitute athletes) was chosen on the conclusion of the Olympic trials in Minneapolis on Saturday.

The team is comprised of Brody Malone, Asher Hong, Paul Juda, Stephen Nedoroscik, and Frederick Richard, who won the all-around competition on the trials. Collectively, they are going to try and win a workforce all-around Olympic medal for the USA for the primary time for the reason that U.S. claimed bronze in Beijing in 2008, and a gold medal for the primary time for the reason that Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.

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For the very first time, we proudly introduce the 2024 U.S. Olympic Males’s Gymnastics Workforce offered by @Xfinity!

➡️ Asher Hong

➡️ Stephen Nedoroscik

➡️ Frederick Richard

➡️ Brody Malone

➡️ Paul Juda

Touring Alternative Athletes: Khoi Younger & Shane Wiskus pic.twitter.com/mM9QecO7Mi

— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) June 29, 2024

After securing one of many 5 spots on the workforce, Malone pointed to his Father in Heaven.

“I simply have to offer all of the glory to God,” he said. “It’s all Him, and, yeah, it’s all God. So I simply wish to thank Him for this. … I’m simply so grateful for all the pieces that God’s accomplished for me.”

A extreme knee damage wasn’t stopping him. 😤

Hear from Brody Malone after he was formally named to Workforce USA for the #ParisOlympics. #USAGTrials24 pic.twitter.com/M53iCeN7zG

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 30, 2024

Solely Malone — the 2021, 2022, and 2024 U.S. all-around champion — has Olympic experience on Workforce USA. From smalltown Summerville, Georgia, Malone made the journey to Tokyo for the Olympics three years in the past, the place the U.S. males’s workforce completed fifth and he completed fourth within the particular person horizontal bar competitors.

“Anytime you get the chance to signify your nation on the Olympic stage, it’s an honor and a blessing,” he told UInterview in Could about the potential for reaching the Olympics once more.

The 24-year-old Stanford grad’s prior expertise might be invaluable for the U.S. males of their quest for a medal in 2024, but only one yr in the past, Malone was about as far-off from competing on the Olympics as anybody might get.

In July of final yr, Malone was nonetheless busy re-learning tips on how to stroll, a lot much less carry out as a world-class gymnast. At a contest in Germany that March, one among his high-bar dismounts went mistaken and Malone crumpled to the ground. He had suffered a severe right knee injury that included tearing a number of ligaments and his meniscus, and fracturing his tibial plateau.

The damage was so important that many questioned whether or not Malone would recuperate in time for the 2024 Olympics, if in any respect. However after three surgical procedures and numerous hours of rehab, his title-winning efficiency within the all-around competitors on the U.S. Gymnastics Championships final month shortly put any doubts to relaxation.

“It simply feels superb to have the ability to — with all the pieces I’ve gone by way of — be capable of come again and make a comeback like I’ve and be aggressive sufficient to be on the highest once more,” Malone mentioned, according to Olympics.com, after the U.S. Championships, which was his first all-around competitors for the reason that damage. “… Going by way of what I’ve gone by way of, I’ve positively discovered to be glad about each alternative I’ve to compete. And so with that, I’m simply letting free a little bit bit extra, having a little bit extra enjoyable.”

Following the primary evening of competitors on Could 30, Malone deflected the reward, as he typically does.

“Before everything, I’ve to offer all of the glory to God,” he said. “He’s the one cause that I’m right here standing proper now and I used to be capable of compete and do nicely tonight. I give all of the glory to Him. It was an extended restoration course of, however with His assist and with the assistance of my household, my teammates, I’m standing right here competing.”

“It was superb.”

Males’s all-around chief Brody Malone reacts to competing in his first nationwide championships since 2022. #XfinityChamps pic.twitter.com/79Lyfuap61

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) May 31, 2024

Malone has had fairly the yr to date in 2024, and it’s solely July. He was capable of return to competitors in a restricted capability in January. Then in Could, he bought married to his longtime girlfriend, Serena, weeks earlier than successful his third U.S. Gymnastics Championships. Now he’s headed to the Olympics once more.

Malone is aware of that his capacity to compete in Paris is actually a present from God. Whereas there, Malone will search to proceed to make use of his platform to offer glory to Him.

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