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PHOENIX — Frederick Richard is halfway to filling a major hole in his gymnastics resume — a U.S. all-around title — but his lead is tenuous.
Richard, an Olympic and world championships bronze medalist, totaled 84.326 points over six routines, taking a slim lead of .152 over 19-year-old Danila Leykin. The second half of the Xfinity U.S. Championships men's competition is Saturday.
"It's great I'm in first place, it (the training) is showing, but I still think I have a lot more to show on day two," Richard said on NBC Sports.
Richard was the U.S. all-around runner-up in 2024 and 2025, but the men who won those titles — Olympic teammates Brody Malone and Asher Hong — are sitting out this year's nationals.
"Everybody says you haven't won U.S. Championships yet," Richard said before the meet. "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."
Richard leads despite taking six tenths of deductions outside of his routines: three tenths for wearing a uniform that doesn't conform to rules (an intentional move he also did last year) and three tenths for saluting the wrong way after his pommel horse set.
Leykin, who was 10th in his senior nationals debut in 2025, leads a younger generation on the rise as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics approach. He won three medals at the 2025 World Junior Championships.
Nationals continue Friday with the first of two days of women's competition, live at 10 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBCSN.
Frederick Richard turns to Google Doc to plan for LA 2028 Olympics, and to remember Paris 2024
Frederick Richard eyes his first national all-around title at the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships this week, live on Peacock and NBCSN.
The famed Pommel Horse Guy from the Paris Olympics was pessimistic going into nationals due to a left shoulder injury.
But once again Stephen Nedoroscik delivered in the spotlight, hitting his horse routine for 14.958 points. He is in Xth place going into Saturday, trailing 2025 World bronze medalist Patrick Hoopes, who scored 15.641.
"That was unbelievable compared to what I was expecting to do today," Nedoroscik said on the NBC Sports broadcast.
02:18
Nedoroscik delivers clean pommel horse set
Four-time U.S. pommel horse champion Stephen Nedoroscik cleanly executes his routine on the opening day of U.S. Gymnastics Championships.
He was significantly better than at the 2025 U.S. Championships, where he had mistakes on both nights, averaging 13.7 points per horse routine for fifth place on the apparatus.
Nedoroscik said before nationals that his goal was merely to make the national team, which will be at least 15 gymnasts, most of whom will not be on the World Championships roster.
Stephen Nedoroscik, Pommel Horse Guy, faces chronic hurdles in bid for U.S. gymnastics record
Stephen Nedoroscik returns from surgery to compete at the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, live on Peacock and NBCSN.
Continue reading...
Richard, an Olympic and world championships bronze medalist, totaled 84.326 points over six routines, taking a slim lead of .152 over 19-year-old Danila Leykin. The second half of the Xfinity U.S. Championships men's competition is Saturday.
"It's great I'm in first place, it (the training) is showing, but I still think I have a lot more to show on day two," Richard said on NBC Sports.
Richard was the U.S. all-around runner-up in 2024 and 2025, but the men who won those titles — Olympic teammates Brody Malone and Asher Hong — are sitting out this year's nationals.
"Everybody says you haven't won U.S. Championships yet," Richard said before the meet. "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."
Richard leads despite taking six tenths of deductions outside of his routines: three tenths for wearing a uniform that doesn't conform to rules (an intentional move he also did last year) and three tenths for saluting the wrong way after his pommel horse set.
Leykin, who was 10th in his senior nationals debut in 2025, leads a younger generation on the rise as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics approach. He won three medals at the 2025 World Junior Championships.
Nationals continue Friday with the first of two days of women's competition, live at 10 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBCSN.
You must be registered for see images attach
Frederick Richard turns to Google Doc to plan for LA 2028 Olympics, and to remember Paris 2024
Frederick Richard eyes his first national all-around title at the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships this week, live on Peacock and NBCSN.
Stephen Nedoroscik hits pommel horse routine
The famed Pommel Horse Guy from the Paris Olympics was pessimistic going into nationals due to a left shoulder injury.
But once again Stephen Nedoroscik delivered in the spotlight, hitting his horse routine for 14.958 points. He is in Xth place going into Saturday, trailing 2025 World bronze medalist Patrick Hoopes, who scored 15.641.
"That was unbelievable compared to what I was expecting to do today," Nedoroscik said on the NBC Sports broadcast.
You must be registered for see images attach
02:18
Nedoroscik delivers clean pommel horse set
Four-time U.S. pommel horse champion Stephen Nedoroscik cleanly executes his routine on the opening day of U.S. Gymnastics Championships.
He was significantly better than at the 2025 U.S. Championships, where he had mistakes on both nights, averaging 13.7 points per horse routine for fifth place on the apparatus.
Nedoroscik said before nationals that his goal was merely to make the national team, which will be at least 15 gymnasts, most of whom will not be on the World Championships roster.
You must be registered for see images attach
Stephen Nedoroscik, Pommel Horse Guy, faces chronic hurdles in bid for U.S. gymnastics record
Stephen Nedoroscik returns from surgery to compete at the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, live on Peacock and NBCSN.
Continue reading...
