Latest news with #FrederickRichard
Forbes
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Olympic Gymnast Fred Richard Sets Guinness World Record
Frederick Richard of the United States performs his routine on the floor exercise during the ... More Artistic Gymnastics Men's Team Final on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena in Paris, France on July 29, 2024. (Photo by Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Fred Richard, known for leading Team USA to the bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, set the Guinness World Record for most standing backflips completed in 24 hours late Friday night. The Olympic and World medalist completed over 1,100 standing backflips in under 24 hours, broadcasting his attempts on a YouTube livestream. Richard reportedly needed to complete 1,002 flips to set the record, a count that he reached before midnight, roughly 12 hours into his attempt. The Massachusetts native attempted the record in a makeshift studio inside Premier Gymnastics in Stoughton, MA, his hometown. The Olympian wasn't just flipping for the Guinness World Record. Richard completed the stunt to raise funds to purchase gymnastics equipment for young African gymnasts. In recent months, Richard had produced social media content showcasing the gymnastics talents of children from Clon Circus Uganda, a foundation committed to helping 'street children and orphans discover purpose and build a better future.' Through multiple social media posts, Richard drew attention to the stark contrast between his own training gear and the conditions faced by athletes at Clon Circus. Unlike U.S. athletes who train with mats and advanced equipment, the Clon Circus performers practice challenging gymnastics moves directly on bare ground. 'We all have potential, it's the environment we're in that determines the outcome,' Richard posted in April, supplemented by videos of talented Clon Circus gymnasts. The Frederick Flips Foundation had opened a GoFundMe dedicated to garnering contributions before and during Friday's event. The foundation works in partnership with the Dominican Health and Education Initiative (DAHEI), and specifies donations 'will go toward securing gymnastics equipment and a facility for the kids to train.' As of Thursday, the fundraiser had raised under $10,000. After Richard's successful stunt, the total reached over $35,000. The fundraiser remains open for donations. One of the most successful American male gymnasts in recent history, Richard is widely considered the most prominent male gymnastics influencer in the world. He boasts a combined 1.5 million followers on Instagram and TikTok. In 2024, Time honored Richard as one of the most influential emerging stars in popular culture. Bloomberg reported that Richard earned 'roughly $6,000 a month from social media platforms' before the 2024 Olympics. He has worked with prominent brands like Crocs, Celsius Energy Drinks, and Peloton. He also owns an apparel line, Frederick Flips. Richard is also immensely successful on the competition floor. Last month, he led the University of Michigan Men's Gymnastics team to its seventh NCAA National Championship. He also clinched the all-around title. In 2023, Richard became the first American man to medal in the individual all-around at the World Championships since 2010. That same year, he played a pivotal role in clinching the first World medal for the U.S. men's team since 2014. At the Paris Olympics, he led the U.S. men to their first Olympic team medal since 2008. ANTWERP, BELGIUM - OCTOBER 05: Bronze medalist Frederick Richard of Team United States celebrates ... More during the medal ceremony for the Men's All Around Final on Day Six of the 2023 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships at Antwerp Sportpaleis on October 05, 2023 in Antwerp, Belgium. (Photo by)
CBS News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Olympian Frederick Richard attempting backflip world record to raise money for gymnasts in Africa
Olympic medalist and Stoughton, Massachusetts native Frederick Richard is trying to break a world record for the most backflips done in 24 hours. Known as "Frederick Flips" on social media, the gymnast is live-streaming his efforts to raise money for high-level gymnastics equipment for kids in Africa. Providing gymnastics equipment for African children "Gymnastics is not cheap. Equipment is expensive," said Richard in a post on Instagram. "That's why it's so hard to get into. We're trying to change that." The 21-year-old needs to average one flip per minute to keep on world record pace. He said the hometown support means the world to him. "Massachusetts has been a huge part. We're actually doing this world record in the first gym that I started in," said Richard. "It's made this whole journey really fun, honestly a lot easier than it could have been without these people. So it's been everything." Needs 1,002 backflips to break record Richard needs to complete 1,002 backflips to claim the record and hopes to raise $100,000 in the process. The current record is 1,001. "We've broke down cost of what equipment I want to bring there. Mats, springboards, trampolines, mini trampolines. That's to start them off," said Richard. "Storage facilities, logistics of shipping. And that's what it's going to take to really make a big difference." A live-painting event is just one of the things on the scheduled to keep interest up on the livestream. All of the artwork created, including a piece by Richard himself, will be auctioned off with proceeds going to help train kids in Africa. "Fred has always been passionate about bringing more eyes to the sport of gymnastics and bringing more young boys into the sport and growing the sport," said Richard's mother, Ann-Marie. "I am just so proud of this boy, his focus, his passion." "The rest of my career is definitely going to be about helping kids that are underprivileged get those resources to do sports that they love to do, things that are fun and reach their full potential," said Richard. Richard expects to complete his world record attempt early Saturday morning.
