At just 21 years old, Brody Malone lead the USA men’s gymnastics team to the Olympics in Tokyo, ultimately placing fourth overall, just out of medal contention.
But for as long as he’s been a gymnast, he’s also been a team roper.
Learning to rope from his dad J.D., Brody has been roping since kindergarten and grew up competing at jackpots and junior rodeos in his home state of Georgia. He even qualified for the National Junior High Finals Rodeo, before focusing his attention to gymnastics.
“I think the focus and competitive drive he got from rodeo helped with gymnastics – even from knowing to pay attention to the stock and being aware of what he was drawing,” his father told The Team Roping Journal. “And of course the balance and strength he got from gymnastics helped his roping.”
Read TRJ’s feature on the athlete here.