From Learning To Walk, Brody Malone Proceeds To Stick “Cherry on Top” Landing in a Year at Xfinity Championships

March 18th of last year marked a pivotal moment for 5X U.S. champion Brody Malone. A severe injury forced him out of action for about a 14-month break from all-around competition. Yet, in a remarkable journey from recovery to triumph, Malone showcased his skill at the Xfinity Championships in Fort Worth, Texas. Just a year after relearning to walk, he has defied the odds to deliver an exceptional performance. His flawless landing, which he aptly described as the “cherry on top,” captivated the audience. 

Securing an all-around win after perfectly executing his dismount, Malone, wearing a bulky brace and a heap of tape, received a massive cheer from the crowd as he nailed his routines one after another. This awe-inspiring comeback is sure to go down in history. However, the greatest victory lies within Malone’s mind, as he lets the world glimpse his happiness and renewed confidence.

In a recent post on X, NBC Olympics and Paralympics shared Brody Malone’s happiness at having won the Xfinity Games. They captioned the post praising the gymnast, writing, “Brody Malone has a lot to be proud of in his first national championships since 2022. #XfinityChamps.” In the video, Brody Malone expressed his satisfaction and said, “I’m super happy with how tonight went. Just being able to come out, start on the floor was super strong.”

It gave Malone a lot of confidence in executing his floor routine perfectly. Another highlight was also finishing on the high bar. Backing up his statement are his scores of 14.9 on the high bar as well as 14.1 and 14.1 in Pommel Horse and Still Rings respectively, amounting to 86.95 all-around and beating Fred Richard to the top.

This is also his first national medal after 14 months, and the high bar was his “first one back in competition” since his injury. Further adding “to stick a dismount like that, that was just the cherry on top. It was awesome.” This had been especially daunting for Malone as he was injured in his right knee in 2023 in Germany at the DTB Pokal Team Challenge.