Finishing as the top all-around gymnast on Saturday was not enough for former Gopher Shane Wiskus to compete on Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Wiskus will still travel to Paris as an alternate gymnast along with Khoi Young. It will be Wiskus’s second trip to the international competition.

Wiskus compiled an 85.350 all-around score on Saturday totaling 169.650 over the two days of the U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Team Trials. The five Olympians headed to Paris to compete in July are Asher Hong, Stephen Nedoroscik, Paul Juda, Brody Malone and Fred Richard.

Before the trials at Target Center, Wiskus said he hoped the crowd would energize him and the gymnasts. He said having fun produces the best results for him during competitions and the love he received from the Minnesota crowd on day one helped his performance.

“The second I stepped out on that field and heard the Minnesota love and the fans screaming for me, I mean, it was an incredible experience and a memory I’ll have forever,” Wiskus said.

Wiskus finished with the best overall floor routine score (28.950) over the two days and the second-best overall high bar score (27.450). The 25-year-old said he was thankful for the chance to compete in his home state in what he believed could be the last meet of his life. Among the Minnesota crowd were Wiskus’s former Gopher teammates.

The former teammates sat in the last few rows of section 113 at the Target Center wearing white t-shirts with “Team Wiskus” emblazoned on the back. Occasionally, they showcased their school spirit by standing up and singing the “Minnesota Rouser.” 

“Having my team here means the world,” Wiskus said. “I had a lot of family and friends out there, and I just hope I made them proud. Hell of a ride.”

If the U.S. Olympic Trials marked the end of Wiskus’s career, he would finish it at the Olympics after a storied collegiate career where he won three national championships. 

Surveying the field

After finishing his sophomore year at the University of Michigan, Richard automatically qualified for the Olympic team, topping the all-around leaderboard and placing in the top three in three events.

After nailing his final vault and being named an Olympian for the first time, Richard said he felt hungry, literally, but complimented that feeling with a side of accomplishment.

“You just feel satisfied, electric like the job is done, and now your life is changing, something I’ve never done before,” Richard said. “The Olympics, it’s like a new mountain in my life, and I’m ready to climb it.”

Richard leads a young team of gymnasts representing the United States in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Malone was the heavy favorite to lead the field heading into the competition but is coming off a right knee injury he suffered in March 2023 that took three surgeries to fully recuperate.

Malone said he leaned on his faith, team and medical staff to help get him back to this point.

“With everything that I’ve gone through with my leg, it’s just been a battle to get back to where I’m at,” Malone said.

Persevering through injury and recovery, Malone finished second overall in the all-around, just two-tenths of a point behind Richard.

Team USA’s High-Performance Director, Brett McClure, said this is a great team with individual and team medalling opportunities.

“Based on the results from two competitions, these are the guys that were the best, absolutely for this process, and that’s what we need,” McClure said.

The men’s artistic gymnastics portion of the Paris Olympics begins July 27 at Bercy Arena.