PARIS — The United States’ love affair with the pommel horse is currently on hiatus. The apparatus that turned Stephen Nedoroscik into a cult hero and the Americans into bronze medalists effectively ended any shot the U.S. had to medal in the all-around just as the competition got started.
Frederick Richard, a bronze medalist in the most recent World Championships, fell off the pommel horse, a disastrous mistake that rendered him out of contention after just one rotation. Richard scored just a 12.733, putting him miles behind the leaders.
He wasn’t alone. The sounds of “ugh” replaced the crowd’s typical oohs and ahhs as some of the world’s best struggled. China’s Bohen Zhang, the 2021 World Champion, nearly landed on his head on floor exercise and Japan’s Daiki Hishooto, the reigning Olympic all-around champion, also fell off the pommel horse. Joe Fraser, the 2022 European all-around champion, had to recover from a few form breaks to hold onto his routine there as well. Oleg Verniaiev led the competition into the fifth routine, and though he didn’t fall on horizontal bar, he got stuck (for lack of a better word) and watched his gold-medal hopes plummet.
Oka Shinnosuke, Japan’s youngest gymnast, won the gold with China’s Zhang and Ruoteng Xiao claiming silver and bronze. Edged off the podium by Great Britain in the team final, Ukraine once again finished in the dreaded fourth. Illia Kovtun fell to fourth after Zhang, the last gymnast of the night, nailed his horizontal bar routine. The difference between bronze and fourth after six rotations was a mere .199.
Paul Juda, who has been a model of consistency since arriving in Paris, performed solidly once again and finished 14th. Richard, who also had a few issues on floor, finished 15th.
For the Americans, it was a tough come down after such an incredible high in the team final. With aspirations of multiple medals here, they will turn to Nedoroscik, the team final hero, to try to secure a second. The pommel horse specialist is the lone member of Team USA to earn a shot in an event final. Nedoroscik will compete on Saturday.
Nedoroscik and teammate Asher Hong sat in the athlete delegation section of Bercy Arena, ready to cheer on their all-around teammates. Brody Malone was on the floor with the competitors. As luck would have it, the athlete section sits just up from the pommel horse, Nedoroscik’s beloved event, and for at least one night, the site of U.S. vindication. He and Hong, both wired up for TV audio, sent good vibes to Richard, who started on the pommel horse, Nedoroscik encouraging Richard to “find your rhythm.’’ Alas, it did not translate.
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(Photo: Naomi Baker / Getty Images)
