Frederick “Flips” Richard, a celebrated gymnast with an Olympic bronze medal, is not just aiming for gold at the Paris Olympics; he’s setting his sights on transforming men’s gymnastics itself. Driven by a vision to modernize the sport, Richard debuted a groundbreaking, custom men’s gymnastics uniform at the USA Gymnastics Winter Cup, signaling what he hopes will be a widespread adoption of a more contemporary style.
Moving away from the traditional tight-fitting unitard and foot-covering pants, Richard opted for enhanced comfort and a cooler aesthetic. His new Olympic Uniform features a looser tank top and shorts, reminiscent of basketball attire, along with optional leggings for events like the pommel horse. This innovative design marks a significant departure from convention, aiming to inject fresh appeal into men’s gymnastics apparel.
Richard revealed that the concept has been in development since the Paris Games, in collaboration with a designer. Their mission was to address his personal “pain points” with the standard uniform, striving for an ultimate design breakthrough. This vision materialized through a partnership with Turn Gymnastics, a specialized men’s gymnastics apparel company, which undertook the manufacture and production of this pioneering olympic uniform.
“It’s pretty simple, but it’s kind of just much more comfortable feel,” Richard explained, highlighting the enhanced comfort offered by the new design. The next step involves Turn and Richard launching a dedicated website, enabling gymnastics gyms nationwide to customize and order these uniforms for their teams. This initiative aims to democratize access to modern gymnastics wear and foster a broader shift in olympic uniform aesthetics.
Richard envisions a future where fans can also engage with gymnastics culture more directly. “People in the crowd eventually will get to wear our jerseys, will get to wear our uniforms, which is something you don’t see in gymnastics,” he noted, suggesting a potential merchandising avenue that could further popularize the sport and his olympic uniform design.
However, innovation comes at a price. Richard incurred a three-tenths of a point deduction from his all-around score at the Winter Cup for wearing the non-traditional uniform. In elite gymnastics, such penalties can be crucial, but for Richard, the statement of modernizing the olympic uniform was worth the risk. Having already secured his place on the five-member Paris Olympics men’s gymnastics team, Richard is strategically using events like the Winter Cup to promote his vision without immediate Olympic qualification pressures.
Frederick Richard
Frederick Richard showcasing his innovative olympic uniform during the floor exercise at the Winter Cup in Louisville, Kentucky, demonstrating his commitment to modernizing gymnastics apparel. Courtesy of USA Gymnastics.
This uniform is a key component of Richard’s broader ambition to elevate men’s gymnastics into mainstream sports culture. “I feel like these next four years for me is, like, my arc of changing the sport,” Richard stated. His plan extends beyond mere rule or uniform changes, aiming to amplify the sport’s visibility through collaborations with diverse athletes and artists, and by sharing his personal journey to broaden gymnastics’ appeal.
Reflecting on his journey, Richard admitted to past discomfort in sharing his gymnastics pursuits. “Feeling uncomfortable or kind of embarrassed to tell people that I do gymnastics” was a sentiment driven partly by the outdated uniform. The tight unitard, impractical for everyday scenarios like a quick stop at a gas station post-practice, fueled his questioning: “Why does it look like this still?” particularly as fashion norms have evolved significantly.
Richard observed a stagnation in gymnastics uniform design, noting, “There has been no innovation in it, no revamping of it.” This realization propelled him to seize the opportunity for change, motivated both by his past experiences and a desire to improve the sport for future generations. “We had this Olympics. We had our successes. It kind of feels like the revamp of men’s gymnastics,” Richard expressed, emphasizing a pivotal moment for embracing change and pursuing passions within the sport.
Fortunately, Richard’s pioneering spirit has resonated positively within the gymnastics community, particularly among college gymnasts. He noted their consensus on the need for modernization, reinforcing the timeliness of his olympic uniform initiative. Richard hopes his design will offer gymnasts across all levels a more appealing alternative, eventually eliminating the penalty for choosing comfort and style.
He sees a clear path for adoption in college gymnastics, where coaches have voting power to amend rules. Richard mentioned substantial support from college coaches, suggesting a favorable climate for change. For children’s gymnastics, the transition could be even quicker, given less stringent uniform regulations.
The international stage presents more complexity. Richard has engaged with international gymnastics officials, showcasing his olympic uniform to demonstrate its aesthetic appeal and competitive safety. This proactive step is aimed at initiating discussions about rule modifications. Gaining traction and positive feedback is crucial for prompting an official vote on allowing such uniform innovations in international competitions.
Frederick Richard Olympic Uniform Comparison
A side-by-side view of Frederick Richard in his new olympic uniform at the Winter Cup in Louisville, Kentucky (left), and in a traditional USA olympic uniform during the Paris Olympic Games (right), highlighting the design evolution. Courtesy of USA Gymnastics; Getty Images.
USA Gymnastics has acknowledged Richard’s choice, stating they have no official comment but recognize his comfort-driven decision and acceptance of the FIG deduction. FIG did not provide comments regarding Richard’s uniform innovation.
Despite the penalty, Richard achieved second place in the all-around at Winter Cup, scoring 159.000. He plans to continue showcasing his olympic uniform at upcoming individual meets, collaborating with Turn to launch their website and the official “Frederick Flips” line. His ambition is to see young gymnasts and college athletes embracing his designs by next season, culminating in his ultimate dream: wearing his innovative olympic uniform at the L.A. Olympics.
