Brody Malone stood at the edge of the platform, stock still. He raised his right arm to the judges in salute—the crowd in the gym roared in adulation—and then he turned, took a deep breath and faced the high bar. All of the elements of a top flight artistic gymnastics competition were present: there was Malone, one of the most decorated male gymnasts of all-time, flanked by his 2024 Olympic teammate and fellow bronze medalist Stephen Nedoroscik. Other elite gymnasts, like Donnell Whittenburg, a two-time national champion on vault and rings, and Malone’s longtime coach, former Olympian Syque Caesar, watched diligently. Even the air in the building was thick with competitive tension. There was just one crucial element missing from the competition—the results. Although the event looked and felt like a legitimate meet, it was a final inter-squad practice for Malone and his teammates at EVO Gymnastics in preparation for the upcoming Xfinity U.S. Championships held in New Orleans in early August. “You’ve probably heard the phrase 99% mental, 1% physical before,” says Caesar, the Men’s Senior Elite head coach at EVO. “We’re in that phase right now close to the competition where things don't look perfect because we’re honing in on that mental strength and emotional stress that comes with competing. These inter-squad practice meets are essentially a rehearsal for the real thing.”

Brody Malone stood at the edge of the platform, stock still. He raised his right arm to the judges in salute—the crowd in the gym roared in adulation—and then he turned, took a deep breath and faced the high bar. All of the elements of a top flight artistic gymnastics competition were present: there was Malone, one of the most decorated male gymnasts of all-time, flanked by his 2024 Olympic teammate and fellow bronze medalist Stephen Nedoroscik. Other elite gymnasts, like Donnell Whittenburg, a two-time national champion on vault and rings, and Malone’s longtime coach, former Olympian Syque Caesar, watched diligently. Even the air in the building was thick with competitive tension. There was just one crucial element missing from the competition—the results. Although the event looked and felt like a legitimate meet, it was a final inter-squad practice for Malone and his teammates at EVO Gymnastics in preparation for the upcoming Xfinity U.S. Championships held in New Orleans in early August. “You’ve probably heard the phrase 99% mental, 1% physical before,” says Caesar, the Men’s Senior Elite head coach at EVO. “We’re in that phase right now close to the competition where things don't look perfect because we’re honing in on that mental strength and emotional stress that comes with competing. These inter-squad practice meets are essentially a rehearsal for the real thing.”

The cheering, courtesy of friends, coaches and the larger EVO Gymnastics family, was a testament to the location—it is here, in a nondescript office park on the side of the road, that some of the best gymnasts in the world come to train. EVO was sending 11 male gymnasts, five Juniors and six Seniors, to the U.S. Championships, the final domestic elite event of the artistic season that would not only crown national champions, but cement U.S. Junior and Senior National team rosters for the coming year.

For Malone, the practice marked a return to form. After helping the United States win bronze at the 2024 Olympic Games, Malone’s past year has been a whirlwind—the 25-year-old spent time traveling on the Gold Over America Tour with Simone Biles, married his long-time girlfriend Serena Ortiz and even got a new puppy. “I told my coach this year that I wanted to focus on being a person. My priority was not on gymnastics—I’m grateful for that, because gymnastics is a year-round sport,” says Malone. “We don’t get a lot of opportunities to take time for ourselves.” 

For two of EVO’s junior team members, 17-year-old Hunter Simpson and 16-year-old Jackson Kurecki, the U.S. Championships are an opportunity to make further inroads on their gymnastics journeys. Both Simpson and Kurecki, who attend school online and train at EVO during the day, are on the U.S. National Junior team. Success in the upcoming U.S. Championships would ensure that they remain on the roster. “I’d say that I feel a little bit of pressure heading into the competition, because it’s my second U.S. Championship,” says Simpson, who placed second in 2024’s junior all-around competition. “I feel like I can show the new juniors the ropes. It’s a really fun competition if you can get all the nerves out and stay focused.”

For Caesar, the practice is a chance to check in on the most crucial aspect of his athletes’ performance: their mental state. Some gymnasts had successful days. Others, like Nedoroscik, who won an individual bronze on pommel horse in Paris and was the national champion in the discipline in 2024, did not. When Nedoroscik, who was forced to wait for the entirety of the mock competition before attempting his routine, failed the stick the landing, frustration boiled over. “I had to remind him that it’s not always glorious. The tough parts of the sport are tough, but they make the wins that much greater,” says Caesar. “My message to him was number one, ‘I’m proud of what you’re doing.’ I know today didn’t go your way, but we’ve got a whole other shot at it next week. Number two was ‘remember to have fun.’ I know that you’re the guy, you’re “Clark Kent-Superman” and you feel pressure from the media, but you’re human and that’s okay.”