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

Key Information

Early life and education

[edit]

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]

Gymnastics career

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Junior

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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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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 and 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 the 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

[edit]

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, floor exercise, and 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 the floor exercise, pommel horse, rings, and parallel bars that helped the USA secure its third-place finish. In doing so, Moldauer won his second World Championships medal and helped the USA win its first team medal in nine years.[32]

2024

[edit]

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, finishing fourth in the all-around, second on floor exercise, and winning 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]

2025–2026: Suspension and return to competition

[edit]

In January 2025, Moldauer was issued a 16-month ban backdated to September 2024 by the United States Anti-Doping Agency for an anti-doping rule violation for whereabouts failures (three missed tests in a 12-month period).[43][44] He stated that he intended to keep training in hopes of making the 2028 Summer Olympics.[45]

Moldauer competing at the 2026 American Cup

Moldauer's ban expired in January 2026,[46] which allowed him to return to competition and compete at the Rocky Mountain Open, where he qualified to compete at the 2026 Winter Cup.[47][48] At the Winter Cup Moldauer finished second in the all-around behind Fred Richard and placed first on parallel bars. As a result he was added back onto the national team.[49] He was also selected to represent the United States at the 2026 American Cup, a mixed-team competition, alongside Asher Hong, Danila Leykin, Charleigh Bullock, Claire Pease, and Hezly Rivera.[50]

At the American Cup, Moldauer helped Team USA win silver behind China.[51] He next competed at the DTB Pokal Team Challenge where he helped the USA win team gold. Individually, he won silver in the all-around, bronze on pommel horse, and gold on parallel bars.[52]

On May 11, 2026, he was selected to represent the United States at the 2026 Pan American Championships.[53] At the competition Moldauer helped the USA win bronze as a team and individually he qualified to the all-around, pommel horse, rings, parallel bars, and horizontal bar event finals.[54] He won bronze in the all-around behind Colombians Camilo Vera and Ángel Barajas. During event finals he won gold on parallel bars and placed fourth on pommel horse and rings and seventh on horizontal bar.[55][56]

At the 2026 U.S. National Championships, Moldauer placed fifth in the all-around and won the national title on parallel bars.[57] At the conclusion of the competition, Moldauer was selected as the traveling replacement athlete for the 2026 World Championships.[58]

Competitive history

[edit]
Competitive history of Yul Moldauer
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 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 27
NCAA Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 10 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
U.S. National Championships 5 5 8 7 13 12 15
Olympic Trials 5 5 6 8 5 7 14
2017 Winter Cup 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 11 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 12
American Cup 1st place, gold medalist(s)
NCAA Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 4 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Guimaraes International 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
U.S. National Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 8 5 6 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 13
World Championships N/a 7 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
2018 Winter Cup 7
American Cup 1st place, gold medalist(s)
NCAA Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
U.S. Championships 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 11
World team trials 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
World Championships 4 12 4
2019 Winter Cup 1st place, gold medalist(s) 4
American Cup 1st place, gold medalist(s)
NCAA Championships 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 6 38 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 13 27 39
U.S. National Championships 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 6 9 5 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 10
World team trials 5
World Championships 4 16
2020 Winter Cup 5 11 4 5 1st place, gold medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 15
Friendship & Solidarity Meet 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
2021 Winter Cup 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 4 5 16 1st place, gold medalist(s) 12
U.S. National Championships 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 14 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 9 1st place, gold medalist(s) 14
Olympic Trials 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 9 1st place, gold medalist(s) 13
Olympic Games 5 6
World Team Trials 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 4 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
World Championships N/a 4 5
Arthur Gander Memorial 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Swiss Cup DNS
2022 Winter Cup 4 13 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 20 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 21
DTB Pokal Team Challenge 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Pan American Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 9 1st place, gold medalist(s)
U.S. Classic 19 5 34
U.S. National Championships 5 7 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 4 9 7 17
World Championships 5[a]
Arthur Gander Memorial 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Swiss Cup 1st place, gold medalist(s)
2023 Winter Cup 1st place, gold medalist(s)
DTB Pokal Team Challenge 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Pan American Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 4 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
U.S. Classic 28 5 40
U.S. National Championships 5 23 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 4 1st place, gold medalist(s) 34
World Championships 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 8
Arthur Gander Memorial 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Swiss Cup 1st place, gold medalist(s)
2024 Winter Cup 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 4 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 12
DTB Pokal Team Challenge 1st place, gold medalist(s) 4
Pacific Rim Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5
U.S. National Championships 4 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 12 8 1st place, gold medalist(s) 11
Olympic Trials 9 9 13 8 6 13
2026 Rocky Mountain Open 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Winter Cup 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 33 6 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 11
American Cup 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
DTB Pokal Team Challenge 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Pan American Championships 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 4 4 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7
U.S. National Championships 5 12 12 4 1st place, gold medalist(s) 13
  1. ^ Moldauer was the team USA alternate

References

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Yul Moldauer

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Yul Moldauer (born August 26, 1996) is an American artistic gymnast who has represented the United States in major international competitions, including as a member of the team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he helped secure a fifth-place finish and placed sixth on floor exercise.[1] A two-time World Championships bronze medalist—on floor exercise in 2017 and with the team in 2023—he is also a ten-time NCAA champion during his time at the University of Oklahoma, where he earned 18 All-America honors and the 2019 Nissen-Emery Award as the nation's top senior gymnast.[2] Moldauer, who trains at 5280 Gymnastics in Colorado, has amassed five U.S. national titles and nine Winter Cup golds, establishing himself as a versatile competitor across all apparatus.[3] Born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Arvada, Colorado, Moldauer began gymnastics at age seven and joined the U.S. Junior National Team by age nine, quickly rising through the ranks with his coaches Vladimir, Alexander, and Irina Artemev.[2] He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2020 with a degree in communications and stands at 5 feet 3 inches tall, attributes that have contributed to his dynamic style on events like floor and parallel bars.[1] In 2024, Moldauer won gold on parallel bars at the U.S. Championships and served as a non-traveling alternate for the Paris Olympics, capping a season that included all-around and floor exercise victories at the Winter Cup.[3] His career highlights also include six Pan American Championship golds, with three in 2023 alone, underscoring his consistency and leadership on the senior national team since 2017.[2] In September 2024, Moldauer received a 16-month suspension from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for three whereabouts failures, prohibiting competition until January 13, 2026; he resumed training on November 13, 2025, and has expressed intent to return to competition thereafter.[4][5] Beyond gymnastics, he enjoys mixing music, working on cars, and giving haircuts, reflecting a grounded personality shaped by his family, including parents Peter and Orsa and siblings Leah, Sorcha, and Sundo.[1] Moldauer's journey from an international adoptee to a prominent figure in American gymnastics exemplifies resilience, with his technical prowess and competitive drive leaving a lasting impact on the sport.[2]

Background

Early life

Yul Moldauer was born on August 26, 1996, in Seoul, South Korea.[2] He was adopted at three months old by Peter and Orsa Moldauer, an American couple who brought him to live with them and their three biological children—Leah, Sorcha, and Sundo—on their family farm in northern Larimer County, Colorado.[6][2] Upon adoption, the Moldauers learned that Yul had been born prematurely to a mother with chemical dependency issues; however, with dedicated medical care and family support, he fully recovered from these early health challenges.[7][8] Moldauer spent his early childhood on the family ranch outside Wellington, where daily responsibilities shaped his character.[9] He performed morning chores before school, such as feeding the animals—including horses, goats, cows, chickens, and ducks—which taught him the value of hard work, discipline, and reliability from a young age.[9] These experiences on the farm, combined with the close-knit family dynamics, fostered a resilient mindset, particularly influenced by his adoptive father Peter's unwavering encouragement and hands-on support during his recovery and formative years.[9][10] As a high-energy child with early interests in physical play and outdoor activities, Moldauer was drawn to sports; at age seven, he tried gymnastics through a free local gym tryout offered to help him burn off excess energy.[2]

Education

Moldauer attended Golden High School in Golden, Colorado, where he balanced his academic responsibilities with early intensive gymnastics training at a local club.[6][3] He graduated from high school in 2015 and accepted a full gymnastics scholarship to the University of Oklahoma, enrolling in the fall as a freshman.[11][12] From 2015 to 2020, Moldauer competed for the Oklahoma Sooners men's gymnastics team while pursuing a degree in communications, navigating the dual demands of elite-level training, national competitions, and coursework.[13] He graduated with his bachelor's degree in May 2020, crediting the university's supportive environment for enabling him to achieve both athletic excellence and academic completion.[2][14] Following graduation, Moldauer transitioned to a full-time professional gymnastics career, focusing on international competitions while leveraging his communications background for media and sponsorship opportunities.[2]

Junior gymnastics career

Early training

Yul Moldauer began his gymnastics journey at the age of seven in Northern Colorado, enrolling in a local class at Mountain Center in Fort Collins alongside a friend, where he initially participated in tumbling activities.[15][14] His parents, recognizing his natural aptitude, supported his early involvement by signing him up for the program, which quickly transitioned from recreational tumbling to more structured training.[15] By age eight, Moldauer had progressed to competing in his first meets, building foundational skills through beginner-level routines that emphasized basic apparatus work.[15] At around age ten, his family relocated from Fort Collins to Denver to allow him to join 5280 Gymnastics, a club renowned for its elite men's program, where he began training under head coach Vladimir Artemev and other members of the Artemev family, including Alexander and Irina Artemev.[14][2] This move marked a significant step in his foundational development, as the structured environment at 5280 helped him advance through progressive levels, focusing on technique and strength building.[14] During his pre-teen and early teen years at 5280, Moldauer gained exposure through regional and state-level competitions, where he began securing victories that honed his competitive edge.[16][14] His training emphasized the development of core skills across apparatuses, with early strengths emerging particularly in floor exercise—where he displayed natural flair and tumbling prowess—and pommel horse, building a solid base of handstands, circles, and leg separations that would define his style.[14][2] Under the Artemevs' guidance, he progressed methodically, balancing rigorous drills with an emphasis on consistency to establish a strong technical foundation before tackling more advanced elements.[17]

Major achievements

Moldauer's junior career was marked by consistent success in the Junior Olympic program, where he secured multiple state and regional titles at Levels 9 and 10, culminating in national recognition.[15] At the 2010 U.S. Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, he won the Level 9 all-around title with a two-day score of 166.100, earning a spot on the 2009-10 USA Gymnastics Junior National Team.[18] He repeated his all-around prowess in 2015, capturing gold in the 18-year-olds age division at the Junior Olympic Nationals, which led to his selection for the 2015 junior national team.[19] Between 2013 and 2014, he earned silver medals in the all-around at these championships, demonstrating steady progression in the competitive ranks.[19] A highlight of his apparatus specialization came in 2014, when Moldauer claimed the junior pommel horse national title at the P&G Championships (now U.S. National Championships), showcasing his strength on that event amid broader event final placements.[19][20] His performances across these years, including second-place finishes on pommel horse and parallel bars at the 2012 Visa Championships, solidified his status on the junior elite circuit.[20] Internationally, Moldauer gained early exposure as a junior national team member, participating in the USA-Great Britain-Switzerland Training Camp/Competition in Lilleshall, Great Britain, where he contributed to the U.S. team's efforts in his debut overseas assignment.[21] These selections to the junior national team from 2009 through 2013 and in 2015 marked key transition points, positioning him for elite-level development while still under 18.[22][18]

Senior gymnastics career

2017

In 2017, Yul Moldauer, competing as a freshman at the University of Oklahoma, emerged as a prominent figure in senior elite gymnastics, securing multiple national titles and his first international medal.[20] He began the season strongly at the Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas, where he won the senior men's all-around title with a two-day score of 171.750, also claiming gold on still rings (15.000) and parallel bars while earning silver on floor exercise.[23] This performance qualified him for the U.S. National Team and highlighted his versatility across apparatuses.[24] Building on that momentum, Moldauer captured the all-around title at the AT&T American Cup in Newark, New Jersey, scoring 85.232 to edge out Ukraine's Oleg Verniaiev by 0.233 points; his routine featured a strong floor exercise (14.566) that showcased his powerful tumbling passes, including a triple back somersault.[25] Later that summer, at the P&G Championships (U.S. National Championships) in Anaheim, California, he defended his status as a rising star by winning the senior all-around crown with 171.600, alongside the floor exercise gold (14.950) and a silver on parallel bars (14.700).[26] His pommel horse routine at the event, which included difficult elements like the Magyar travel and Russian wendeswings, earned a solid 13.750 despite minor execution deductions, underscoring his growing strength on the apparatus.[26] Moldauer's breakthrough culminated at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Montreal, where he made his senior international debut, finishing seventh in the all-around final with 84.998— the best U.S. men's placement since 2010.[27] In the floor exercise event final, he secured the bronze medal with a 14.500, executing a clean routine featuring a 2.5 twisting double back and a full-in with a twist, just 0.033 behind silver medalist Artem Dolgopyat of Israel.[28] These achievements established Moldauer as a key contributor to the U.S. team, which placed fifth overall, and affirmed his prowess on floor and pommel horse as foundational to his competitive profile.[29]

2018

Moldauer began the 2018 season with a dominant performance at the American Cup in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, where he won the all-around title with a score of 85.964, edging out competitors from Great Britain and Ukraine.[30] This victory marked his second consecutive American Cup all-around crown, building on his 2017 national title and solidifying his status as a leading U.S. contender, with media outlets highlighting his consistency and potential to challenge established stars like Sam Mikulak.[31] Domestically, Moldauer delivered strong showings at the Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas, Nevada, earning multiple apparatus medals while securing his automatic spot on the U.S. Senior National Team through his prior World Championships results.[32] At the U.S. Championships in Boston, Massachusetts, he claimed the all-around silver medal with a two-day total of 168.150, achieving top-three finishes on every apparatus, including silvers on floor exercise and vault, and bronzes on still rings and parallel bars.[33] These results, combined with his performance at the subsequent World Team Selection Camp where he placed second all-around, earned him a spot on the U.S. team for the 2018 World Championships in Doha, Qatar.[34] Following his 2017 World Championships bronze on floor, Moldauer adjusted his training at the University of Oklahoma to emphasize consistency across apparatuses, particularly strengthening his pommel horse routine amid increased media scrutiny as one of America's top gymnasts.[3] At the World Championships, the U.S. men's team finished fourth in the team final with a score of 252.973, a notable improvement from prior years.[35] Individually, Moldauer placed fourth in the floor exercise final with 14.566, narrowly missing a medal, and competed on pommel horse during qualifications (11.500) and the all-around final (12.200), contributing to the team's efforts despite challenges on that apparatus.[36][37]

2019

In early 2019, Moldauer began the year strongly by winning the senior all-around title at the Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas, Nevada, scoring 84.500 and edging out Sam Mikulak by 0.050 to secure his second consecutive victory in the event.[38] This performance retained his position on the U.S. Senior Men's National Team for the fourth consecutive year.[39] Just a month later, he claimed his third straight all-around title at the American Cup in Greensboro, North Carolina, posting a score of 85.932 to narrowly defeat teammate Sam Mikulak by 0.001—the closest margin in the event's history.[40] These international successes highlighted his consistency across apparatuses, particularly on floor exercise and vault, where he earned high execution scores.[41] In April 2019, as a senior at the University of Oklahoma nearing graduation, Moldauer was awarded the Nissen-Emery Award, recognizing him as the nation's top senior college gymnast for his outstanding athletic achievement, leadership, and scholarly excellence.[39] This honor, often called the "Heisman of gymnastics," marked the eighth such award for Oklahoma and underscored his pivotal role in the Sooners' program during his final collegiate season.[42] At the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Kansas City, Missouri, in August, Moldauer earned the all-around silver medal with a two-day total of 168.600, finishing second to Mikulak and ahead of Akash Modi in third.[43] He also secured a silver on floor exercise with a 14.700, contributing to multiple apparatus podium finishes that demonstrated his versatility and reliability on the U.S. team.[44] Moldauer's domestic results positioned him favorably for international selection, and in September at the World Championships selection camp in Colorado Springs, he performed strongly across events, including a 14.500 on floor, to earn a spot on the six-member U.S. team for the 2019 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.[45] These achievements, including consistent all-around and apparatus podiums throughout the year, solidified his emergence as a leader on the senior national team ahead of major global competitions.[46]

2020–2021

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted Yul Moldauer's training in 2020, as gymnastics facilities across the United States, including those at the University of Oklahoma where he had trained, were closed for months, forcing athletes to adapt to limited resources. Moldauer, who had recently graduated from Oklahoma, converted his garage into a makeshift gym equipped with basic apparatus like a pommel horse to maintain conditioning amid the shutdowns, while the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics from 2020 to 2021 provided an unexpected extra year of preparation but also heightened uncertainty. This period saw the cancellation of numerous competitions, with USA Gymnastics shifting to virtual monitoring and selection processes based on prior performances, including the U.S. team's qualification secured at the 2019 World Championships where Moldauer had competed all-around.[47][48][49] Building on his strong 2019 form, Moldauer secured his spot on the U.S. Olympic team through the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials in St. Louis, where he finished second in the all-around with a two-day total of 168.450, behind Brody Malone, and placed in the top three on floor exercise, vault, parallel bars, and horizontal bar. The selection committee named him to the five-man team alongside Malone, Shane Wiskus, Sam Mikulak, and Alec Yoder, recognizing his versatility and experience from three prior World Championships. At the Tokyo Games, held under strict pandemic protocols including no spectators and daily testing, the U.S. team finished fifth in the team final with a score of 250.473, marking their best Olympic placement since 2008 and contributing to a total of 507.234 points across qualification and finals. Moldauer competed on five apparatus in the team final, posting scores of 14.366 on floor exercise, 14.366 on pommel horse, 13.900 on still rings, 14.200 on vault, and 14.566 on parallel bars.[50][51][52] Individually, Moldauer qualified for the all-around in 28th place with an 84.098 during the preliminary round but did not advance to the final, limited by a weaker horizontal bar routine of 12.933; his strongest qualification scores included 14.866 on floor exercise (sixth place, advancing to the event final) and 14.233 on pommel horse. In the floor exercise final, he placed sixth with 13.533 after a minor execution error where his foot caught during a transition, dropping his execution score despite a solid difficulty of 5.4. Moldauer faced personal hurdles leading into the Games, including back spasms that affected his performance at the 2021 U.S. Championships, though he recovered sufficiently for trials; during the Olympics, the team's cohesive dynamics under coach Mark Williams provided support, but the isolating environment and pressure of representing the U.S. amid global scrutiny added emotional strain.[53][54][55][56]

2022

Following his participation in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Yul Moldauer experienced an up-and-down season as he recovered and refocused his training on apparatus specialization, particularly strengthening his performances on floor exercise, pommel horse, and parallel bars to build toward future competitions.[57][19] Moldauer's resurgence peaked at the 2022 Pan American Gymnastics Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he helped lead the U.S. team to the gold medal. Individually, he claimed gold medals on floor exercise with a score of 14.367, pommel horse with 13.200, and parallel bars with 14.900, while earning silver in the all-around with 81.767.[58][19][59] At the 2022 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Tampa, Florida, Moldauer placed fifth in the all-around with a total score of 169.139, securing spots on the national team podium in multiple events including fifth on pommel horse and parallel bars. He also competed in several international cups, winning gold as part of the U.S. mixed pairs team with Addison Fatta at the Swiss Cup (scoring 14.350 on floor), contributing to the U.S. team's gold at the DTB Pokal Team Challenge in Stuttgart, and taking silver in the all-around at the Memorial Arthur Gander in Chiasso, Switzerland, with 56.100.[60][61][62][19][63] Media coverage in 2022 highlighted Moldauer's role as a veteran leader for younger U.S. gymnasts, with outlets noting his experience from the Olympics and Pan American success as inspirational for the emerging generation on the national team.[57]

2023

Moldauer began the year strongly by winning the all-around title at the 2023 Winter Cup in Louisville, Kentucky, scoring 85.342 and securing a spot on the U.S. Senior Men's National Team.[24] This performance highlighted his consistency across apparatus, building on his parallel bars and floor strengths from the previous year.[57] In May, Moldauer dominated the 2023 Pan American Championships in Medellín, Colombia, claiming the all-around gold with a score of 84.200, ahead of teammate Shane Wiskus in silver.[64] He also contributed to the U.S. team's gold medal in the team final, where the Americans scored 247.499.[65] Individually, Moldauer earned three apparatus medals: gold on floor exercise (14.500) and parallel bars (14.567), plus a silver on horizontal bar (13.600), while placing third on pommel horse (13.367).[65] Returning to domestic competition, Moldauer placed fifth all-around at the 2023 Core Hydration Classic in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, with notable execution on parallel bars (14.955).[3] At the U.S. National Championships in San Jose, California, in August, he finished fifth in the all-around (167.446), solidifying his status as a top U.S. contender, and won the parallel bars gold.[66][67] Moldauer represented the United States at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, where the team earned bronze with a score of 250.402, the first world team medal for U.S. men since 2014.[68] He contributed key scores, including 14.933 on parallel bars—the highest for the U.S.—and 14.366 on floor exercise.[68] Although he did not advance to individual all-around or apparatus finals, having competed on four apparatus in qualification for a partial score of 55.865, his team performance underscored his reliability in high-pressure international events.[69] In November, Moldauer paired with Jade Carey to win team gold at the 2023 Swiss Cup in Zurich, Switzerland, further demonstrating his versatility in mixed events.[70] These results positioned Moldauer as a pivotal figure in the U.S. team's strategic buildup for the 2024 Olympic cycle, focusing on refining routines and team cohesion ahead of the Paris Games.[71]

2024

In April 2024, Yul Moldauer competed at the Pacific Rim Championships in Cali, Colombia, where he led the U.S. team to gold and individually claimed gold medals in the all-around (84.600), floor exercise (14.550), still rings (14.150), and parallel bars (14.800), contributing to a dominant U.S. performance with multiple event victories.[72][73] At the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, in late May and early June, Moldauer earned gold on parallel bars and silver on floor exercise, finishing fourth in the all-around with 168.200, while delivering competitive routines on pommel horse despite execution challenges.[3][74][75] Moldauer then advanced to the U.S. Olympic Trials in Minneapolis from June 27–30, placing ninth in the all-around (165.300) and third on floor exercise (14.500), with solid contributions on pommel horse including a 13.450 on day one.[76][77][78] Following the trials, he was named a non-traveling alternate for the U.S. men's gymnastics team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, positioned to provide support if required during the Games.[3] These results capped a year of high-level international and national success for Moldauer, building on his 2023 World Championships experience and underscoring his veteran leadership on the U.S. team.[3]

2025: USADA suspension

In January 2025, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced that Yul Moldauer, a member of USA Gymnastics' senior men's national team, had accepted a 16-month period of ineligibility for committing three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period, in violation of the World Anti-Doping Code and USADA's protocol for Olympians and Paralympians.[4] The failures occurred on February 9, May 29, and July 12, 2024, stemming from inaccuracies in his reported location within the anti-doping system's whereabouts requirements, which led to missed drug testing opportunities.[4] Moldauer, who had maintained a clean competitive record with no prior positive tests or sanctions throughout his career, was provisionally suspended starting September 13, 2024, with the full ineligibility period ending on January 13, 2026.[79] The suspension resulted in significant consequences for Moldauer's competitive schedule, disqualifying him from all results obtained on or after July 12, 2024, including the forfeiture of any associated medals, points, and prizes, and rendering him ineligible for selection to the U.S. national team during the period.[4] He was thereby barred from participating in key 2025 events, such as the Winter Cup in February, the U.S. Championships in June, and the World Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia, in November.[79] Moldauer publicly addressed the sanction in statements issued shortly after the USADA announcement, accepting full responsibility without appealing the decision. "I accepted the suspension without appeal because it was the right thing to do. I was in the wrong," he stated, expressing regret over the lapses and affirming his commitment to adhering to anti-doping rules moving forward.[80] He further noted his intention to return to competition after the suspension, stating, "I will see you all in 2026!" with aspirations to compete toward the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.[80] On November 13, 2025, Moldauer resumed training at his Oklahoma club, stating his eagerness to return to competition in 2026.[5]

Achievements

Competitive history

Yul Moldauer's competitive career spans junior and senior levels, with notable achievements in national, NCAA, and international competitions. The following table summarizes his key placements in major events, focusing on all-around, team, and apparatus finals where he medaled or placed highly. Junior results are included for completeness. All data is drawn from official USA Gymnastics and FIG records.
YearEventPlacementDetails
2010USA-Great Britain-Switzerland Competition (Junior), Lilleshall, Great Britain1st (Team)Junior team gold.[3]
2013International Junior Mexican Cup, Acapulco, Mexico1st (Team)Junior team gold.[3]
2013Kyle Shewfelt International Gymnastics Festival (Junior), Calgary, Canada1st (PB), 4th (PH), 8th (AA)Junior results.[3]
2014P&G Championships (Junior 17-18), Pittsburgh, PA1st (PH), 2nd (AA)Junior national results.[3]
2015Men's Junior Olympic National Championships (JE 18), Daytona Beach, FL1st (AA, FX, SR, VT, PB)Five junior national titles.[3]
2016NCAA Championships, Columbus, OH1st (Team, AA), 2nd (PB), 3rd (FX)College national results.[3]
2017U.S. Championships, Anaheim, CA1st (AA)All-around score: 171.600.[81]
2017World Championships, Montreal, Canada7th (AA), 3rd (FX)Floor exercise bronze medal.[3]
2017NCAA Championships, West Point, NY1st (Team, FX, SR), 2nd (AA)College national results.[3]
2018American Cup (FIG World Cup), Hoffman Estates, IL1st (AA)All-around score: 85.964.[30]
2018NCAA Championships, Chicago, IL1st (Team, AA, FX, VT, PB)Five college national titles.[3]
2019American Cup (FIG World Cup), Greensboro, NC1st (AA)Third consecutive all-around World Cup gold; score: 85.932.[40]
2019World Championships, Stuttgart, Germany4th (Team)Team event.[3]
2020Olympic Games, Tokyo, Japan5th (Team), 6th (FX)Team and floor exercise results.[3]
2021World Championships, Kitakyushu, Japan4th (AA), 5th (PB)All-around and parallel bars finals.[3]
2022Pan American Championships, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil1st (AA, FX, PH, PB)Four gold medals.[82]
2023Winter Cup, Louisville, KY1st (AA)All-around score: 85.342.[83]
2023Pan American Championships, Medellín, Colombia1st (Team, AA, FX)All-around, floor exercise, and team golds.[65]
2023U.S. Championships, San Jose, CA1st (PB)Parallel bars gold.[67]
2023World Championships, Antwerp, Belgium3rd (Team), 8th (PB)Team bronze; parallel bars final.[3]
2024Winter Cup, Louisville, KY1st (AA, FX)All-around score: 169.750; floor gold.[84]
2024DTB Pokal Team Challenge, Stuttgart, Germany1st (Team)Senior team gold.[3]
2024Pacific Rim Championships, Cali, Colombia1st (Team, AA, FX, SR(T), PB), 5th (HB)Multiple golds; all-around score: 84.600.[3]
2024U.S. Championships, Fort Worth, TX1st (PB), 2nd (FX), 4th (AA)Parallel bars gold, floor silver; all-around tied at 168.200.[3]
2024U.S. Olympic Trials, Minneapolis, MN9th (AA)All-around score not specified in finals.[85]
In major championships, Moldauer earned 15 golds, 2 silvers, and 3 bronzes across events like World Championships, Olympics, Pan American Championships, and Pacific Rim Championships. He also secured 3 all-around golds in FIG World Cup series events (American Cup 2017–2019). Note: Results from July 12, 2024, onward were disqualified due to a USADA sanction.[4]

Awards and honors

In 2019, Moldauer received the Nissen-Emery Award, recognizing him as the top senior college gymnast in the nation, often referred to as the "Heisman Trophy" of college gymnastics.[86][87] During his collegiate career at the University of Oklahoma, Moldauer earned 18 All-American honors, tying the school record shared with Jon Horton and ranking second in NCAA history for the most such accolades.[20] Moldauer has been a longstanding member of the U.S. national team, serving on the junior squad from 2009 to 2013 and the senior team from 2015 to 2024.[19] Among his other notable honors, Moldauer secured nine gold medals at the Winter Cup, establishing himself as one of the event's most decorated competitors.[2] He also claimed five gold medals at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships across various apparatuses.[2] On the pommel horse specifically, Moldauer holds multiple titles, including a gold at the 2022 Pan American Championships and silvers at the 2022 Winter Cup, contributing to his reputation for consistency on the apparatus.[59][3]

References

  1. Yul Moldauer - Team USA
  2. Yul Moldauer Meet the Athlete: Bio, career highlights, recent news
  3. Yul Moldauer - USA Gymnastics | Athletes
  4. U.S. Olympic Gymnast Yul Moldauer Suspended By USADA Until ...
  5. Fort Collins' Yul Moldauer living his “American dream” as South ...
  6. NCAA gymnastics: OU's Yul Moldauer soon to close college career ...
  7. Meet Olympic gymnast and Colorado native Yul Moldauer - 9News
  8. From the ranch to Tokyo: Colorado's Yul Moldauer's journey ... - KDVR
  9. Gymnast Yul Moldauer reflects on how his upbringing prepared him ...
  10. Yul Moldauer: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know - Heavy Sports
  11. OU Olympians: Oklahoma's Yul Moldauer is Going to Tokyo
  12. Yul Moldauer - 2018-19 - Men's Gymnastics - University of Oklahoma
  13. Olympic History at 5280 Gymnastics
  14. U.S. Olympics men's gymnastics Yul Moldauer got his start in Colorado
  15. Gymnast Yul Moldauer aims to inspire adopted kids to pursue their ...
  16. Who is Yul Moldauer's Coach? Everything You Need To Know ...
  17. Moldauer wins level 9 all-around title - USA Gymnastics
  18. The Official Website of Yul Moldauer
  19. Yul Moldauer - 2017-18 - Men's Gymnastics - University of Oklahoma
  20. USA Gymnastics makes junior men's international assignments
  21. USA Gymnastics names 2009 U.S. Men's Junior Olympic National ...
  22. Moldauer wins Winter Cup Challenge - USA Gymnastics
  23. Moldauer claims senior men's all-around Winter Cup title; top five ...
  24. Moldauer, Smith win AT&T American Cup titles - USA Gymnastics
  25. Moldauer wins men's senior all-around title at P&G Championships
  26. Moldauer finishes seventh in men's all-around at 2017 World ...
  27. USA wins two event medals at 2017 World Championships
  28. Yul Moldauer Earns Best U.S. Men's All-Around Finish At Worlds ...
  29. Hurd, Moldauer win American Cup titles - USA Gymnastics
  30. Moldauer, Mikulak, Whittenburg lead men's field for 2018 U.S. ...
  31. USA Gymnastics names 2018 U.S. Men's National Team following ...
  32. Mikulak wins fifth senior men's all-around title at 2018 U.S. ...
  33. Mikulak wins all-around at 2018 Men's World Team Selection Camp
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  35. Biles wins first vault gold at 2018 World Championships
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  38. Yul Moldauer wins 2019 Nissen Emery Award - USA Gymnastics
  39. Moldauer, Wong win American Cup titles - USA Gymnastics
  40. Oklahoma Scene: Sooners' Moldauer wins American Cup all-around ...
  41. Moldauer Wins OU's Eighth Nissen-Emery Award - Sooner Sports
  42. 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Results - NBC Sports
  43. 2019 U.S. Championships Men's Results - The Gymternet
  44. 2019 U.S. Men's World Championships Team Named
  45. Moldauer Makes World Team, Williams to Serve as Head Coach
  46. Yul Moldauer Staying Positive as he Trains for His Spot on Team USA
  47. Former OU gymnast turns garage into gym to train for Olympics
  48. U.S. Olympians scrambling to stay in shape after coronavirus closes ...
  49. Gymnasts Brody Malone, Yul Moldauer earn spots on United ... - ESPN
  50. Sam Mikulak, Yul Moldauer, Brody Malone highlight U.S. Olympic ...
  51. In Fifth-Place Finish, The U.S. Men's Gymnastics Team Finds ...
  52. 2020 Olympic Games Men's Results - The Gymternet
  53. Column: U.S. men stumble but advance in gymnastics competition
  54. Yul Moldauer's final floor routine in Tokyo - NBC Olympics
  55. Five things to know about former OU gymnast Yul Moldauer ...
  56. Red-Hot Moldauer Regaining His Olympic Gymnastics Form
  57. U.S. seniors earn 14 medals, including five gold, on second day of ...
  58. Yul Moldauer Wins 4 Gold Medals at Pan American Championships
  59. 2022 U.S. Gymnastics Championships results - NBC Sports
  60. 2022 U.S. Championships Men's Results | The Gymternet
  61. Fatta, Moldauer victorious at Swiss Cup - USA Gymnastics
  62. Moldauer takes silver at Memorial Arthur Gander - USA Gymnastics
  63. Moldauer leads U.S. men's 10-medal day Pan American ...
  64. 2023 Pan American Championships Men's Results | The Gymternet
  65. U.S. Gymnastics Championships, all final results - complete list
  66. 2023 U.S. National Championships - Gymnastics Results
  67. U.S. men claim team bronze at World Championships
  68. Results for 52nd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships ...
  69. Carey, Moldauer win gold at 2023 Swiss Cup - USA Gymnastics
  70. The Veteran Moldauer Among Top Contenders Headed Into Wide ...
  71. US Wins 17 Medals on Day 3, Pac Rims Total 46
  72. 2024 Pacific Rim Championships Men's Results | The Gymternet
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  74. Yul Moldauer - Pommel Horse - 2024 Xfinity U.S. Championships
  75. 2024 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials Results - NBC Sports
  76. 2024 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials: All results
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  78. Yul Moldauer Accepts Whereabouts Sanction - USADA
  79. Yul Moldauer suspended by USADA for 16 months due to ...
  80. Moldauer wins men's senior all-around title at P&G Championships
  81. Four Pan Am golds a 'huge step in the process' for Yul Moldauer
  82. Yul Moldauer captures men's title at 2023 Winter Cup - Olympics.com
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  84. 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Men's Results - The Gymternet
  85. OU men's gymnastics: Yul Moldauer wins Nissen-Emery Award
  86. Yul Moldauer | Gymnast Card - GymCrew Talent
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