African American women have made a huge impact on Olympic gymnastics, with Gabby Douglas, Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles as shining examples of their dazzling skill sets. Now it’s Frederick “Fred” Richard’s turn to try and draw more attention to the men’s competition.

“The Olympics is on that goal sheet of mine,” the 19-year-old Richard said after his eyebrow-raising performance at the 2023 World Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp.

“Bringing home a medal is a big goal, but also to show my potential on the brightest stage.”

At worlds, Richard took the bronze overall medal facing the top gymnasts and helped the U.S. to a team bronze.

  

In April at the NCAA Championships in Maryland, he won the all-around gold along with golds on parallel bars, horizontal bar and rings for Michigan.

A month ago at the U.S. Championships in Fort Worth, Richard was second to Brody Malone. Khoi Young, who is also Black, finished third.

Richard’s talent earned him nicknames “Frederick Flips” (his social media handle) and “Fearless Fred” for attempting crazy skills few others would dare.

Next are the U.S. Olympic Trials on June 27-30 in Minneapolis, then the Paris Olympics from July 26-Aug. 11.

The Boston suburb native became interested in gymnastics at age 4, following an older sister into the sport.

“After watching these kids doing crazy skills, I’d go home and start flipping on my parents’ bed ... landing on my head,”

Richard said. “My parents saw that and thought they had to get me into the sport, too.”

Starting at Somersault Gymnastics, he quickly graduated to Massachusetts Elite Academy, going from local to national and international competitions.

In 2021 and 2022, he was the junior all-around gold medalist at the Pan American Games in Mexico and Brazil.

Women, frequently Americans, have dominated Olympic gymnastics media attention for a century with their dazzling skill sets and will likely continue.

It will take a lot to change that, even slightly. “Frederick Flips” might be the one to do it.