Frederick Richard Claims Gold at World Gymnastics Championships

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, October 25, 2026

Frederick Richard won the gold medal in the floor exercise at the World Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam, becoming the first American man to claim the title since 2003. This victory enhances his bid for the 2028 Olympics and underscores his rising influence in U.S. men’s gymnastics after recently securing his first U.S. all-around championship.

Frederick Richard captured the gold medal in the floor exercise at the World Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam on Saturday, becoming the first American man to claim a world title in the event since Paul Hamm in 2003. Richard posted a score of 14.633, narrowly surpassing Jake Jarman of Great Britain, the defending champion, who earned 14.600.

Richard, 22, who was part of the United States men’s gymnastics team that earned bronze at the 2024 Olympics, has spent recent years promoting the sport through social media and working to elevate the profile of men’s gymnastics in the U.S. Despite being left off the American world championship team last year, Richard’s strong finish in Rotterdam marks a significant step in his bid to secure a spot for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Earlier this year, he won his first U.S. men’s all-around title.

Following his NCAA championships performance for the University of Michigan in the spring, Richard expressed confidence that he would bring home a medal from the world championships. He graduated from Michigan in May and has continued training there under his college coach, Yuan Xiao. Off the competition floor, Richard remains active in his community, organizing the Frederick Flips Fair in August at Stoughton High School, an event designed to celebrate gymnastics with activities such as games, food trucks, and performances.

Jarman, who attempted a more difficult routine in the floor exercise final, was downgraded slightly for execution, which ultimately left him just short of reclaiming the title.

In the women’s competition, American gymnast Skye Blakely added to her medal count with bronze medals on both vault and uneven bars. The 21-year-old from Dallas, who recently won the all-around gold despite recovering from injuries that affected her chances at both the 2021 and 2024 Olympics, showed no signs of fatigue as she continued a strong showing at the championships.

On vault, American Claire Pease earned the silver medal with a score of 14.233, finishing just behind gold medalist Rebeca Andrade of Brazil.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.