Brody Malone capped an impressive meet by the US at the world gymnastics championships, earning the second gold medal on high bar of his career during event finals on Saturday.
The 25-year-old American put together a thrilling set on the high-risk, high-reward apparatus, throwing a series of releases that propelled him to a 14.933, just ahead of world all-around champion Daiki Hashimoto of Japan at 14.733. Joe Fraser of Britain was third at 14.700.
Malone’s gold, which bookended the one he captured in the same event at worlds in 2022, came a day after longtime US teammate Donnell Whittenburg earned the first gold of his career on Friday in still rings. Malone and Whittenburg train together at EVO Gymnastics in Florida.
“Donnell is an awesome teammate,” Malone told Olympics.com. “After I saw him yesterday, the first thing he said to me was, ‘It’s your turn tomorrow.’ That was really motivating. It’s pretty cool that we get to go home to the same club gym with two gold medals.”
Malone’s triumph in his signature event came two and a half years after he shredded his right knee during a fluke accident on the high bar in early 2023. He recovered in time to win a third national all-around title in 2024 before helping the American men claim a cathartic bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.
The recently married Malone considered retirement in the aftermath but has chosen to press on, at least for now. He was rewarded with a gold that finished off a solid meet for the US men’s program. The Americans won three medals in all during the meet, including a bronze for Patrick Hoopes on pommel horse.
