The Foundational Impact Series highlights those who support or have been supported by the USA Gymnastics Foundation in their mission to aid the American gymnastics community.
Not many people embody the title ‘comeback kid’ quite like Brody Malone. After a seven-year senior career filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, Malone can proudly look back on his journey after reaching the peak of American and international achievement in the sport. However, with proper motivation and the support of the USA Gymnastics Foundation, he can also look forward to the future.
Malone couldn’t have guessed that the trajectory of his career would change in March of 2023. After suffering a potential career-ending knee injury during competition, his plans for the year, the Olympic quadrennium and his life hit a standstill. But that wasn’t the end of his story. And now, eight Olympic, World and U.S. medals later, Malone can reflect on the mindset that pulled him through.
“You can’t let your injuries or setbacks set you back,” he stated. “You have to be willing to push through struggles and adversities if you want to achieve something great. Because, if achieving greatness was easy, everyone would do it.”
Easy would be the antonym to the word to describe Malone’s comeback. After 18 months of arduous and nonstop recovery and training, he was back on the scene in 2024 to reclaim his U.S. all-around title and make the men’s Olympic team for Paris. And the rest is history. Literally.
Malone was part of the five-athlete team at the Paris Olympic Games to win team bronze, becoming the first men since 2008 to win a team medal for the U.S. Then a year later in Indonesia, The Olympian won his second World title and third World medal, seating himself as the winningest World high bar medalist in U.S. history.
“Winning gold felt amazing after coming off a team bronze [at the Olympics],” he said. “After Paris I wasn’t sure if I was going to come back but I’m glad I did. It was nice to be able to get back out there and prove to the world that I can still be one of those top guys.”
A shiny new medal was a perfect way to punctuate his event-filled season. And during a year of post-Olympic bliss, getting married, traveling and getting back into the gym, Malone was able to lean on the USA Gymnastics Foundation for support to stay focused while training. Recently named a recipient of the Daniel Zimpfer Memorial Fund Grant, he expressed gratitude for how it’s helped him in his journey.
“I feel extremely grateful to be chosen to receive the grant and I love that there are resources out there to help athletes like us on our path,” Malone shared. “The Zimpfer grant has helped take some of the stress and load off me and allowed me to focus all my time and energy on gymnastics.”
The grant, in the spirit of the Foundation, seeks to support men’s gymnasts as they work toward their Olympic goals. And two-time Olympian and bronze medalist Malone has not yet ruled out a third appearance with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games on the horizon. Although, with such excitement spanning the last two years of his career, he is taking it slow.
“There’s definitely some motivation there [after winning World gold], but the plan hasn’t changed,” said Malone. “I’m still going to take it one year at a time.”
Whether or not Malone makes another Olympic push, The USA Gymnastics Foundation will be there to support him and athletes like him. For more information on the USA Gymnastics Foundation and how you can help empower athletes like Brody, visit usagymfoundation.org.
