Olympic medalist Frederick Richard is aiming to change men's gymnastics with a fresh uniform
Ahead of the Paris Olympics, gymnast Frederick “Flips” Richard had goals larger than a gold medal in mind, seeking to change men’s gymnastics and show everyone what the sport was really about.
Ahead of the Paris Olympics, gymnast Frederick “Flips” Richard had goals larger than a gold medal in mind, seeking to change men’s gymnastics and show everyone what the sport was really about.
On Friday, at the USA Gymnastics Winter Cup and with a bronze medal under his belt, Richard debuted a new, custom men’s gymnastics uniform in an effort to introduce, as he called it, “a modern-day switch of the uniform” — one he hopes will be quickly adopted in the sport.
In place of the tight unitard and pants that cover gymnasts’ feet, Richard went for something cooler and more comfortable: a looser-fitting tank top and shorts that resemble a more tailored basketball uniform, and optional leggings men can wear in events like pommel horse, when their legs can skim the apparatus.
Richard said in an interview that he’s been working with a designer since the Paris Games to “find all the pain points that I hate about the uniform” to come up with the perfect final product. They partnered with Turn Gymnastics — a men’s gymnastics apparel company — to manufacture and produce the uniform.
“It’s pretty simple, but it’s kind of just much more comfortable feel,” Richard said of the new look.
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