Johnson City native Brody Malone will have family watching at the Olympics

(WJHL) — The start of the Paris games is only days away, and once again America’s hope in men’s gymnastics will be Johnson City native Brody Malone.

Malone, who was born in the Tri-Cities and still has family in the area, is making his second trip to the Olympics. The first was four years ago in Tokyo, where he had a disappointing outing amid the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent lack of spectators.

Malone will have his family there this time and hopes it will calm his nerves.

“I’m very nervous,” Malone said. “But I mean, this is what I’ve trained my whole life for, to be able to their routines under pressure like that. So I like to think of it as there’s no difference between me raising my hand at the Olympic Games.”

Malone said he has practiced to the point of developing muscle memory so he can perform under the highest pressure.

“I mean, I’ve done my routines hundreds of times,” he said. “It’s just, it’s muscle memory at this point. So I just try to, you know, breathe, calm my nerves as much as I can and just trust my training because that’s what has got me to the Olympics.”

After three surgeries, the 24-year-old is now leading a youthful U.S. men’s squad hungry for its first Olympic team medal since 2008.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.