2024-07-31 02:45:02
It was a day for celebration when the United States men’s gymnastics team made history, earning their first team medal at the Olympics since 2008.
Brody Malone, along with Frederick Richard, Paul Juda, Asher Hong and Stephen Nedoroscik, took home the bronze medal during the men’s gymnastics team finals on July 29. Japan took the gold, while China won the silver.
While on TODAY July 30, Malone reflected on the team’s strong delivery following what he describes as not his “best performance” in the men’s gymnastics qualification round on July 27.
“We came here to win a team medal, so I just went back to the gym, kind of reset my mind, reset my basics,” Malone said. “I went into that competition confident that I was going to be able to hit for the team.”
Malone also gave insight into their group huddle done after every event, which serves as a team reminder to stay in their “bubble” in order to focus on their own performance versus the competition.
Team USA’s bronze is only their third team medal in 20 years, making it an emotional moment for the athletes, including Malone whose gymnastics career was almost over after a knee injury in 2023.
“You never really know how bad you want something until you get it taken away from you,” Malone, 24, told NBC2 News in Fort Myers, Florida, ahead of their big win.
After competing in the Tokyo Olympics and not medaling, Malone set his sights on Paris. However, he hit a bump in the road as he continued training and competing.
What happened to Brody Malone?
At the DTB Cup in Germany in March 2023, Malone slipped off the high bar as he was going for his dismount. He would go on to tear multiple ligaments in his knee and fracture his tibia.
His full diagnosis, according to Team USA: a torn meniscus, tibial plateau fracture, partially torn posterior cruciate ligament and fully torn lateral collateral ligament.
Malone underwent three surgeries, followed by weeks of bedrest and rehabbing for a year.
Malone would go on to prove that he had made a comeback when he won his third U.S. title in Forth Worth, Texas, in June of this year.
What has Brody Malone said about his 2023 injury?
The Tennessee native and Georgia-raised athlete recalled to NBC the moment he injured himself.
“I felt my knee go out, just like a lot of pressure, and kind of like a bang,” he said. “It was catastrophic … I was like, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be able to make a comeback.”
Malone added that it’s “an honor” and “a blessing” to be able to compete in the Paris Olympics.
In an additional interview with Team USA, he explained that preparing for Paris he had to wear a brace when he competes and limit his time on the floor exercises and vault.
“My approach on floor and vault is looking a little bit different. I’m not trying to get as much difficulty on those events. I’m trying to just do a little bit easier routine and just hit and be clean,” he said. “It just feels amazing with everything I’ve gone through to make a comeback like I have.”
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