Wikipedia

Yul Moldauer

Yul Kyung-Tae Moldauer (born August 26, 1996) is an American artistic gymnast. He is the 2017 U.S. national all-around champion and the 2017 World bronze medalist on floor exercise.[1] He has been a member of the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team since 2017 and represented the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics[2] and was a member of the bronze medal-winning team at the 2023 World Championships.

Yul Moldauer
Kyung-Tae
Moldauer at the 2021 U.S. National Gymnastics Championships
Personal information
Full nameYul Kyung-Tae Moldauer
Country representedUnited States
Born (1996-08-26) August 26, 1996 (age 28)
Seoul, South Korea
HometownArvada, Colorado, U.S.
Height160 cm (5 ft 3 in)
DisciplineMen's artistic gymnastics
Years on national team2016–present
Gym5280 Gymnastics
College teamOklahoma Sooners
Head coach(es)Vladimir Artemev
Assistant coach(es)Alexander Artemev
Former coach(es)Mark Williams
Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's artistic gymnastics
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
World Championships 0 0 2
Pacific Rim Championships 5 0 0
Pan American Championships 8 2 1
Total 13 2 3
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Montreal Floor
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Antwerp Team
Pacific Rim Championships
Gold medal – first place 2024 Cali Team
Gold medal – first place 2024 Cali All-around
Gold medal – first place 2024 Cali Floor
Gold medal – first place 2024 Cali Rings
Gold medal – first place 2024 Cali Parallel bars
Pan American Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Rio de Janeiro Team
Gold medal – first place 2022 Rio de Janeiro Floor
Gold medal – first place 2022 Rio de Janeiro Pommel horse
Gold medal – first place 2022 Rio de Janeiro Parallel bars
Gold medal – first place 2023 Medellín Team
Gold medal – first place 2023 Medellín All-around
Gold medal – first place 2023 Medellín Floor
Gold medal – first place 2023 Medellín Parallel bars
Silver medal – second place 2022 Rio de Janeiro All-around
Silver medal – second place 2023 Medellín Horizontal bar
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Medellín Pommel horse
FIG World Cup
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
All-Around World Cup 3 0 0
Total 3 0 0
AwardsNissen-Emery Award (2019)

Early life and education

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Moldauer was born in Seoul, South Korea on August 16, 1996, and named Kyung-Tae.[3] Because his biological mother was chemically dependent, his adoptive father was told he might not develop into a "productive adult."[3]

Before he was a year old, Peter Moldauer adopted him and named him Yul after the actor Yul Brynner.[3][4][5] Moldauer has three siblings, Leah, Sorcha and Sundo. He grew up on a farm in Colorado and attended Golden High School. He later attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated in May 2020 with a degree in communications.[6]

Junior gymnastics career

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At age seven, Moldauer joined a local gym offering a free tryout, and at age ten, he joined 5280 Gymnastics, where he was coached by the Artemev family (Vladimir, Irina, and Alexander Artemev).[3] In the next few years, he started winning state and regional meets, and eventually won a place on the Junior National Team.[7][8]

In 2014, Moldauer won the junior title on the pommel horse at the U.S. National Championships.[9] In 2015, he won the gold medal in the 18-year-old age division at the Junior Olympic National Championships.[10]

In 2016, Moldauer won his first NCAA all-around title.[11][12]

Senior gymnastics career

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2017

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Moldauer competed at the 2017 Winter Cup where he won gold in the all-around, rings and parallel bars, and silver on floor and vault. He competed at his first top-level international competition in March at the 2017 American Cup in Newark, New Jersey, where he placed first ahead of Olympic gold and silver medalist Oleg Verniaiev.[13] Later that year, he became the NCAA champion on the floor exercise and rings, and placed second in the all-around and on parallel bars. In August, Moldauer won the all-around national title at the 2017 U.S. National Championships in Anaheim, California, and tied for the gold medal with Eddie Penev on floor exercise.[14]

Moldauer made his first World Championship appearance at the 2017 World Championships in Montreal, Canada. He won the bronze medal in the floor exercise final and placed 7th in the all-around final.[15][16]

2018

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Moldauer won his second consecutive American Cup all-around title in March at the 2018 American Cup ahead of more accomplished gymnasts including Kenzō Shirai of Japan, the 2017 World all-around bronze medalist, thanks to Moldauer achieving a top three score on every apparatus. In August at the 2018 U.S. National Championships, he won the silver medal in the all-around behind Sam Mikulak.

In October, Moldauer competed at the 2018 World Championships in Doha, Qatar. He and the U.S. team finished fourth in the team competition. He placed 12th in the all-around final and fourth in the floor exercise final. In 2018, USA Gymnastics named him the 2018 Male Athlete of the Year.[3]

2019

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Moldauer competed at the 2019 Winter Cup in Las Vegas, finishing first in the all-around. Moldauer won his third consecutive American Cup all-around title in March at the 2019 American Cup, just 0.001 of a point ahead of fellow American Sam Mikulak. Moldauer suffered from right elbow pain and did not compete for six weeks.[3] In April 2019, he was presented with the Nissen Emery Award, an annual prize given to the top male gymnast in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.[3]

In August at the 2019 U.S. National Championships, he again won the silver medal in the all-around behind Sam Mikulak. Additionally, he won silver medals on floor exercise and parallel bars.

2020–21

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Moldauer competed at the 2020 Winter Cup in Las Vegas, finishing first on vault, third on parallel bars, fourth on pommel horse, and fifth all-around. Due to his results at the Winter Cup Challenge, he was named to the 2020 senior men's team.[17]

Moldauer finished first on parallel bars, third all-around, third on floor, fourth on pommel horse, and fifth on still rings at the 2021 Winter Cup Challenge in Indianapolis, Indiana. At 2021 U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, Texas he finished first on parallel bars, second all-around, and third on floor and still rings.[18] Moldauer was named to the 2020 Olympic team alongside Brody Malone, Sam Mikulak, and Shane Wiskus.[19] He secured his spot on the team by finishing second in the all-around and finishing in top three on at least three apparatuses at the 2020 Olympic Trials in St. Louis, Missouri.[2]

In November Moldauer competed at the Arthur Gander Memorial. He won the four-event all-around, beating Nikita Nagornyy in the tie-breaker.[20]

2022

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Moldauer competed at the 2022 Winter Cup where he placed fourth in the all-around behind Vitaliy Guimaraes, Khoi Young, and Asher Hong.[21] As a result he was selected to represent the USA at the DTB Pokal Team Challenge in Stuttgart alongside Guimaraes, Young, Hong, and Brody Malone.[22]

In June Moldauer was selected to represent the United States at the Pan American Championships alongside Riley Loos, Brody Malone, Colt Walker, and Shane Wiskus.[23] On the first day of competition Moldauer competed on all six events to help qualify the United States in first place to the team final. Individually he won silver in the all-around behind Caio Souza of Brazil but won gold on floor exercise, pommel horse, and parallel bars.[24] During the team final Moldauer competed on floor, pommel horse, rings, and parallel bars to help the USA win gold ahead of the reigning team champion Brazil.[25]

In August Moldauer competed at the U.S. National Championships. He finished fifth in the all-around but scored third highest when removing domestic bonuses. Additionally, he finished third on the pommel horse.[26] In October Moldauer was named as the traveling alternate for the World Championships team.[27]

2023

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Moldauer won the 2023 Winter Cup in February. He was later selected to represent the United States at the Pan American Championships alongside Shane Wiskus, Curran Phillips, Khoi Young, and Taylor Christopulos. On the first day of competition, Moldauer helped the USA qualify for the team final. Individually he won gold in the all-around, on floor exercise, and on parallel bars, won silver on horizontal bar, and won bronze on pommel horse. Moldauer became the first American male gymnast to win the all-around title at the Pan American Gymnastics Championships. On the final day of competition Moldauer helped the USA win their second consecutive team title.[28]

In August Moldauer competed at the Core Hydration Classic where he placed fifth on parallel bars.[29] He next competed at the Xfinity National Championships where he placed fifth in the all-around but the national title on parallel bars.[30] The following day he was named to the team to compete at the upcoming World Championships alongside Asher Hong, Khoi Young, Fred Richard, Paul Juda, and alternate Colt Walker.[31]

At the World Championships Moldauer helped the USA qualify to the team final in second place. Individually he qualified for the parallel bars final. During the team final he contributed scores on floor exercise, pommel horse, rings, and parallel bars toward the USA's third-place finish. In doing so, Moldauer won his second World Championships medal and helped the USA win their first team medal in nine years.[32]

2024

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Moldauer won first place in the all-around and floor exercise, as well as second on parallel bars, at the 2024 Winter Cup.[33] This performance led him to be selected to compete at the DTB Pokal Team Challenge alongside Shane Wiskus, Riley Loos, Cameron Bock, and Curran Phillips.[34] At this competition, he competed on five out of six events to help team USA win gold at the team final. He also qualified for the pommel horse event final and finished fourth.[35] In April, he was selected to compete at the Pacific Rim Championships along with Cameron Bock, Riley Loos, Danila Leykin, Caden Clinton, and Kai Uemura. On the first day of the competition, he secured the all-around title and continued to win medals throughout the competition: gold in the team final, parallel bars, still rings, and floor exercise.[36]

In June, Moldauer competed at the U.S. National Championships, where he finished fourth in the all-around, second on floor exercise, and won the national title on parallel bars.[37] As a result, he was named to the senior national team for the ninth year in a row and qualified to Olympic Trials.[38] After uncharacteristic mistakes made throughout the competition, Moldauer finished ninth in the all-around and was selected to be a non-traveling alternate for the 2024 Summer Olympics.[39][40][41]

In the fall Moldauer participated in the Gold Over America Tour.[42]

Competitive history

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Year Event Team AA FX PH SR VT PB HB
2015 Winter Cup 17 14 17 22 20 16 29
U.S. National Championships 12 14 6 24 23 6 18
2016 Winter Cup 5 7 14 4 9   27
NCAA Championships       10  
U.S. National Championships 5 5 8 7 13 12 15
Olympic Trials 5 5 6 8 5 7 14
2017 Winter Cup     11       12
American Cup  
NCAA Championships         4    
Guimaraes International        
U.S. National Championships     8 5 6   13
World Championships — 7  
2018 Winter Cup 7
American Cup  
NCAA Championships              
U.S. Championships     7       11
World team trials  
World Championships 4 12 4
2019 Winter Cup   4
American Cup  
NCAA Championships   6 38     13 27 39
U.S. National Championships     6 9 5   10
World team trials 5
World Championships 4 16
2020 Winter Cup 5 11 4 5     15
Friendship & Solidarity Meet  
2021 Winter Cup     4 5 16   12
U.S. National Championships     14   9   14
Olympic Trials         9   13
Olympic Games 5 6
World Team Trials     4      
World Championships — 4 5
Arthur Gander Memorial  
Swiss Cup DNS
2022 Winter Cup 4 13     20   21
DTB Pokal Team Challenge  
Pan American Championships         9  
U.S. Classic 19 5 34
U.S. National Championships 5 7   4 9 7 17
World Championships 5[a]
Arthur Gander Memorial  
Swiss Cup  
2023 Winter Cup  
DTB Pokal Team Challenge    
Pan American Championships         4    
U.S. Classic 28 5 40
U.S. National Championships 5 23   4   34
World Championships   8
Arthur Gander Memorial  
Swiss Cup  
2024 Winter Cup     7 4   12
DTB Pokal Team Challenge   4
Pacific Rim Championships           5
U.S. National Championships 4   12 8   11
Olympic Trials 9 9 13 8 6 13
  1. ^ Moldauer was the team USA alternate

References

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  1. ^ "USA Gymnastics | Yul Moldauer". usagym.org. Retrieved 2017-08-21.
  2. ^ a b "Sam Mikulak, Yul Moldauer, Brody Malone highlight U.S. Olympic men's gymnastics team". OlympicTalk | NBC Sports. 2021-06-26. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Artistic Gymnastics MOLDAUER Yul". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Archived from the original on 2021-07-27. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  4. ^ Zaccardi, Nick (August 18, 2017). "Who will make U.S. men's gymnastics team for worlds?". NBC Sports.
  5. ^ "Yul Moldauer". International Gymnast: 33. April 2017.
  6. ^ "Yul Moldauer". Sooner Sports.
  7. ^ "StickItMedia Exclusive Interview: Yul Moldauer". StickItMedia. July 27, 2010.
  8. ^ Meyer, John (July 18, 2011). "It's health first now for Olympic medalist Artemev". The Denver Post.
  9. ^ Normile, Dwight (August 24, 2014). "Watts, Burke Win U.S. Junior Men's Titles". International Gymnast Magazine.
  10. ^ "Level 10 champions crowned at Men's Junior Olympic Championships". Gymnastic News Network.
  11. ^ Kersey, Jason (April 22, 2016). "OU men's gymnastics: For Sooners' Yul Moldauer, team's success brings individual success". News OK.
  12. ^ "Men's gymnastics: Oklahoma repeats as national champions". NCAA. April 17, 2016.
  13. ^ "2017 AT&T American Cup" (PDF). March 3, 2017.
  14. ^ Ponsi, Lou (August 19, 2017). "Yul Moldauer takes all-around title at the P&G Gymnastics Championships". Orange County Register.
  15. ^ "OU junior Yul Moldauer takes bronze in the floor exercise at World Championships". Tulsa World. October 7, 2017.
  16. ^ "Moldauer finishes seventh in all-around". Sooner Sports. October 5, 2017.
  17. ^ "Mikulak wins four event medals, Benas claims Junior All-Around Title at 2020 Winter Cup Challenge". USA Gymnastics. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  18. ^ "USA Gymnastics | Yul Moldauer". usagym.org. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  19. ^ "USA Gymnastics announces men's Olympic team roster for artistic gymnastics". USA Gymnastics. June 26, 2021.
  20. ^ "Angelina Melnikova continues golden 2021 with victory in Morges". International Olympic Committee. November 4, 2021.
  21. ^ "Guimaraes takes men's senior all-around title at 2022 Winter Cup Presented by OZONE and TURN; five gymnasts automatically qualify to National Team". USA Gymnastics. February 26, 2022.
  22. ^ "U.S. men announce lineups for upcoming FIG Apparatus World Cup in Egypt, DTB Pokal Team Challenge and Mixed Cup in Germany". USA Gymnastics. March 8, 2022.
  23. ^ "Three Olympians will lead U.S. men at Pan American Championships July 15–17". USA Gymnastics. June 7, 2022.
  24. ^ "U.S. seniors earn 14 medals, including five gold, on second day of Pan American Championships". USA Gymnastics. July 15, 2022.
  25. ^ "U.S. senior men win team title, women capture silver as Pan American Championships end". USA Gymnastics. July 17, 2022.
  26. ^ "Malone repeats as all-around champion at 2022 OOFOS U.S. Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics. August 21, 2022.
  27. ^ "U.S. men's program sending mix of World medalists, rising stars to 2022 Artistic World Championships". USA Gymnastics. October 5, 2022.
  28. ^ "U.S. claims men's and women's team titles at Pan American Championships". USA Gymnastics. May 28, 2023.
  29. ^ "Hong brothers crowned as junior and senior men's all-around champions at Core Hydration Classic". USA Gymnastics. August 6, 2023.
  30. ^ "Hong rallies for U.S. men's title at Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics. August 27, 2023.
  31. ^ "U.S. Senior Men's teams named for 2023 Artistic World Championships, Pan American Games". USA Gymnastics. August 27, 2023.
  32. ^ "U.S. men claim team bronze at World Championships". USA Gymnastics. October 3, 2023.
  33. ^ "Moldauer surges on Day 2 to take senior men's Winter Cup gold; Senior National Team is renamed". USA Gymnastics. February 25, 2024.
  34. ^ "U.S. men's and women's artistic programs announce spring international assignments". USA Gymnastics. February 27, 2024.
  35. ^ "Weekend Recap: MAG/WAG DTB Pokal Team Challenge and Mixed Cup; RG Aphrodite Cup". USA Gymnastics. March 18, 2024.
  36. ^ "U.S. wins 17 more medals on final day of Pac Rim, brings total medal count to 46". USA Gymnastics. April 28, 2024.
  37. ^ "Malone takes third career all-around title; Senior Men's National Team named at Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics. June 2, 2024.
  38. ^ "USA Gymnastics announces rosters for 2024 Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics". USA Gymnastics. June 3, 2024.
  39. ^ "2024 U.S. Olympic Trials - Men Day 2" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  40. ^ "U.S. Women's Olympic Team Named at the conclusion of 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics". USA Gymnastics. July 1, 2024.
  41. ^ Crumlish, John (July 3, 2024). "Frederick Richard on topping U.S. Olympic Trials: 'I was pretty cool on the inside'". International Gymnast Magazine. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  42. ^ "Asher Hong, Hezly Rivera, Shane Wiskus and Yul Moldauer Join Simone Biles and America's Best Gymnasts for 30-City U.S. Tour". Greensboro Coliseum Complex. August 15, 2024.
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