Who is Paul Juda? All about the American gymnast who qualified for the all-around finals at the Paris Olympics

Olympic debutant Paul Juda is an American gymnast who has qualified for the men’s all-around finals in Paris. He is a senior elite on the Michigan Wolverines men’s gymnastics team at the University of Michigan. The 23-year-old previously won the bronze medal with Team USA at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp.

On July 27, Juda impressed with his promising performances across the six categories of the individual men’s all-around event. The gymnastic prodigy grabbed the 13th place in the results table, close to his compatriot Frederick Richard in 10th. Juda scored 13.966 in floor exercise, 13.600 in the pommel horse, 13.400 in rings,14.533 in the vault, 14.033 in parallel bars, and 13.333 in the horizontal bar. His overall score of 82.865 helped him to qualify for the all-around finals.

Paul Juda’s early life and family

Paul Wojciech Juda was born on July 7, 2001, in Deerfield, Illinois. Juda went to Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois.

His parents Ewa Bacher and Jozef Juda were both Polish immigrants. The athlete has two siblings, Kasia and Michal. Juda's partner Reyna Guggino is also a gymnast at the University of Michigan.

Pau Juda’s life at the University of Michigan

Paul Juda joined the University of Michigan in 2020, taking up Psychology. He also began competing for the college team Michigan Wolverines in men’s gymnastics. In his first collegiate season, following stellar performances, he received accolades like Big Ten Gymnast of the Week, Big Ten Freshman of the Week, CGA Gymnast of the Week, and CGA Gymnast Freshman of the Week.

Moreover, at the prestigious NCAA Championships, he has won three gold medals in all-around, vault, and floor. Juda bagged three silver medals with his team along with individual pommel horse and horizontal bar. Two bronze medals in team events in 2021 and 2022 are also a part of Juda’s achievements.

Paul Juda’s gymnastics achievements

At the age of 16, Paul Juda competed at the Junior Olympic National Championships 2016, winning the gold medal in floor exercise, and silver in parallel bars and high bar. The following year, he won gold in the all-around event. From here, Juda continued competing and winning medals in junior division national championships.

Following his outstanding performance at the 2020 World Cup where he won bronze on horizontal bars, including fifth on floor exercise and eighth in all-around, Juda got himself added to the United States men's national gymnastics team. He received this honor at just 19 as its youngest member.

In 2021, he won two silver medals, one each in the team and individual all-around events at the Pan American Championships.

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Paul Juda suffered a couple of injuries in 2022 and 2023

Paul Juda at the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships [Getty]

During the 2022 US Classic in Salt Lake City, Paul Juda injured himself in the warm-ups. He hyperextended his left knee forced him out of the Classic, shattering his approach to the U.S. Championships.

He made his comeback in 2023 during his senior season at his university. However, he injured himself again. Juda experienced an ankle injury on the high bar that put him out of competition.

Juda made his return at the US Classic 2023 where he was placed third in the all-around and third on the individual vault and horizontal bar as well.