Michigan State University's Paul Judah was unlikely to compete at the U.S. Men's Gymnastics Olympic Trials, which will be held June 27-29 in Minneapolis.
The Deerfield, Illinois native picked the right time for the biggest competition of her life. Over the two days of competition, she accomplished her goal with zero falls and a successful run through every routine. Judah placed fourth in the all-around and finished in the top five in four events: floor exercise (second), pommel horse (third), vault (fourth) and horizontal bar (fifth). Judah's Olympic dream was left to the selection committee, which used an algorithm based on scores from the U.S. Championships and Olympic Trials to determine the five members and two alternates who will represent the United States in Paris from July 26 to August 11.
Judah's Michigan teammate, Fred Richard, was the only one of the 20 competitors who didn't have to endure the tense moments inside Target Center waiting for the committee's decision, as he earned an automatic berth by finishing first overall and in the top three in three events.
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“My heart was just about to jump out of my chest,” Judah said last week at the Newt Loken Training Center in Ann Arbor. “I literally just couldn't sit still. I knew I had a chance. Like I said before, 'Yes, there's something at stake here. It's your dream.' I knew I was in a good position, but oh my God, my heart was beating and I felt the blood pumping through my veins.”
Judah, who turned 23 this month, had the shortest wait of all the competitors as his name was announced first. He broke down in tears after being announced as an Olympian to the crowd inside Target Center during an NBC Sports broadcast.
“All the emotions just hit me at once,” he said. “In that moment when they called my name, I knew that my dream was going to come true forever. A phrase I've always kept in mind and told myself is, 'Once an Olympian, always an Olympian.' It was a dream come true. It was a really cool feeling, and I wish I could say I came out there knowing that I was an Olympian and I was definitely going to be an Olympian, but when they called my name, it made it even more special.”
Judah capped off an illustrious collegiate career by winning an NCAA title on floor exercise in 2024. He was named Big Ten Gymnast of the Year in 2021 and 2022 and was the 2022 NCAA individual all-around and vault champion.
But he also had his down times, redshirting and missing the 2023 season due to injury, but his lowest point came when he wasn't selected for the national team or given an alternate spot at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Judah took a different approach this time around and is a more experienced gymnast. He helped the U.S. win bronze at the 2023 World Championships, the U.S.' first team medal since 2014, reaching the finals on vault and horizontal bar.
“In 2021, I realized I was too focused on making the team or missing out,” Judah said. “I was so focused on being an Olympian that year that I wasn't even enjoying being on stage. At one point during the competition, I was like, 'Oh man, I remember when I was just doing this for fun,' and then one day, (coach Jordan Gallenstrom) said to me during the competition, 'You're still doing it for fun. It should still be for fun.'”
“I don't think I really understood those words then. This year I just tried to 100% enjoy every moment, every minute I had with the crowd. All the people who heard my name, all the hugs and asked for autographs – wow, I'll never forget those moments. Competing was amazing, but knowing I was just living my dream made it a lot less stressful.”
But making the team is just the first step. Judah and Richard won't return to Ann Arbor empty-handed. The U.S. hasn't won a medal in men's gymnastics since 2008, and hasn't won a gold medal. Will that add extra pressure for this year's team?
“Probably,” Judah said, “I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel it, but we have an immense support system, we have the best players in the world on our team and we were selected for a purpose: to represent our country and achieve the highest honour.”
