Fuzzy Benas

Benas was born September 25, 2002, in Albany, New York, to Shannon and Adam Benas.^[1] His parents gave him the nickname Fuzzy when they were getting a sonogram and wanted to know the gender – the nurse said the picture was "too fuzzy" to tell, so they started calling him that before he was even born.^[2] His hometown is Richmond, Texas and he attended Travis High School. He enrolled at the University of Oklahoma to pursue gymnastics.

Benas was the 2018 co-national champion in the 15–16 age division alongside Isaiah Drake and Justin Ah Chow.^[3] At the 2019 Winter Cup Benas won gold on rings and placed fourth in the all-around.^[4]

In early 2020, Benas competed at the 2020 Winter Cup where he placed first in the all-around and on rings.^[5] The remainder of the competitions in 2020 were either canceled or postponed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. In November of that year Benas signed his National Letter of Intent with the Oklahoma Sooners.^[6]

Benas became age-eligible for senior-level competition in 2022. He competed at the 2022 Winter Cup where he placed eleventh in the all-around.^[7] He competed at the NCAA Championships where he helped Oklahoma finish second as a team. He was named College Gymnastics Association's Rookie of the Year.^[8]

After the end of the college season, Benas underwent shoulder surgery and spent the next few months recovering.^[2] In October, he severed a nerve in his hand during a pumpkin carving accident.^[2] Right after Benas was medically clear to restart training, he tore his ACL.^[2] As a result, Benas did not compete during the 2023 NCAA season.

Benas returned to competition in August to compete at the 2023 U.S. Classic and the 2023 U.S. National Championships, although he did not compete on all six apparatuses.^[9]

Benas made his elite all-around return at the 2024 Winter Cup, where he placed sixth. As a result, he was added to the senior national team for the first time.^[10] Additionally Benas was selected to compete at the DTB Pokal Mixed Cup in Stuttgart alongside Riley Loos, Kai Uemura, Addison Fatta, Dulcy Caylor, and Nola Matthews. While there, he helped the USA finish first as a team.^[11]

At the 2024 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championship, Benas helped Oklahoma finish third as a team. Individually he placed third in the all-around behind Khoi Young and Fred Richard.^[12] He was named CGA's Gymnast of the Year.^[13]

Benas next competed at the U.S. National Championships where he finished eleventh and was added to the national team.^[14] As a result he qualified to compete at the 2024 Olympic Trials where he ultimately finished sixth.^[15]

Benas's injuries continued as he had a thumb surgery in January.^[16]