Team USA's Cowboy Olympian Wins Bronze in Paris Gymnastics

Brody Malone, at the young age of 21 has been a leading force in team USAs mens olympics for a couple years now. This year at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics he led his team to a bronze medal. Before he was a standout gymnast, he found ability and success in the rodeo arena too. 

Born in Tennessee, now living in Georgia, Malone has been a team roper as long as he has been a gymnast. His dad J.D is a team roper, and taught Brody at a young age. He grew up competition at junior rodeos and jackpots. He even qualified to the the most prestigious junior rodeo in the world, the National Junior High Finals Rodeo. After junior high, his focus shifted to mainly gymnastics, though he still comes home to rope with his family every so often. 

Growing up, youth athletes have to make some difficult decisions. Initially, they get to play multiple sports and try it all but eventually, their commitment and focus will tune into one sport that they excel at. I believe that every sport you play growing up teaches you something, rather you are any good at a it or not, and it especially makes you a more well rounded individual. Brody did just that, and took his ability in the arena and turned it into drive and inspiration on the mat. 

During his sophmore year in high school, Malone knew that gymnastics was his calling, though he still loved to rope too. He went on to school at Standford University and went to win back-to-back NCAA national all around titles. He has always been a strong all around contender, as he competed in all the events at the Olympic games too. The rodeo dreams still remain strong in the family, as his younger brother Cooper is on the collegiate rodeo team for the University of West Alabama. 

This year at the Paris Olympics, he struggled in the individual competition, but came back with nearly perfect markings to help Team USA win the bronze medal. Some were calling his individual performance 'disastrous' and 'one of his worst meets to date,' but he proved his ability soon after during the team competitions. 

After his poor performance on Saturday, Malone said, 'I mean, that was probably one of the worst meets of my life, but I knew that I had the capability to go out and hit routines, so I just kind of set my mind right and went out there and did it for the guys today."

Brody's dad, J.D, has been behind him the whole way and supports all of his dreams, both in the arena and at the gym. His mom, Tracy is also one of his biggest inspirations. In 2012 they lost her to cancer. Since then, everything Brody has done has been in honor of his mom; he even carries a pink bandana at the events and has dedicated himself to helping fund cancer research. Among his support system is also his finance, Serena Ortiz. At the 2024 Olympics, J.D and Serena were the loudest in the crowd. 

At only 21 years old, we are sure to see Brody Malone on the podium again, and maybe at the rodeo pay window sometime too. Without a doubt, he is an athlete and has proven to be successful at all levels of competition.