Frederick Richard halfway to first U.S. all-around gymnastics title with slim lead

Frederick Richard is on track to secure his first U.S. all-around gymnastics title with a slim lead of .152 points over 19-year-old Danila Leykin, after scoring 84.326 points in six routines at the Xfinity U.S. Championships. Richard, an Olympic and world championships bronze medalist, was the runner-up in the U.S. all-around events for 2024 and 2025, but the previous winners, Brody Malone and Asher Hong, are absent from this year's nationals.

Richard acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, "My coaches (at the University of Michigan) say, 'You haven't won a U.S. Championships,' and so I think it's a big piece of the puzzle."

Leykin, who placed 10th in his senior nationals debut in 2025, is part of a emerging generation of gymnasts preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Richard is currently leading the competition, despite incurring deductions for rule violations and technical errors during his routines.

Meanwhile, Stephen Nedoroscik, the famed Pommel Horse Guy from the Paris Olympics, delivered an impressive performance, scoring 14.958 points in his horse routine. The 2025 World bronze medalist is currently in 10th place, trailing Patrick Hoopes, who scored 15.641 points. Nedoroscik expressed his satisfaction with his performance, stating, "That was unbelievable compared to what I was expecting to do today."