Yul Moldauer Returns: The Next Chapter
Olympic gymnast opens up about his 16-month suspension, comeback journey, and why love for gymnastics brought him back at 29
Watch the full episode above.
Introduction
After 16 months away from elite gymnastics, Olympian Yul Moldauer is back. But this isn’t just a comeback story about medals and routines—it’s a journey about rediscovering love for the sport that defined his life.
In the premiere episode of GymnasticsVille Podcast, Yul sits down for an unfiltered conversation about his suspension, his emotional return at Rocky Mountain Open, working at a mason jar factory, and why—at 29 years old—he’s chasing the 2028 Olympics.
“I should go back because I love it. And if I love it enough, it will lead me to the national team, the world team, the Olympic team. Love will overpower all these hard days.”
The Rocky Mountain Open: An Emotional Return
Stepping back into competition after more than a year away, Yul described the moment as everything—highs, lows, excitement, and nerves all at once.
“I remember even before the competition, I was rolling out in my hotel room and I got emotional,” Yul shared. “Like I actually, like my eyes started to water. Everything was hitting me—coming back, training super hard these last eight weeks, everyone kind of doubting me, but also having the pressure of wanting to make Winter Cup.”
The Rocky Mountain Open felt like a homecoming. Yul has competed at this meet for over 10 years, and this time, he got to rotate with his former team, Oklahoma.
Starting on Pommel Horse
Of course, gymnastics had one more challenge in store: Yul started on pommel horse, widely considered the most nerve-wracking event in men’s gymnastics.
“I was like, of course this would happen,” he laughed. “The most nerve-wracking event for men’s gymnastics I’m starting on. And I didn’t know my order at all either.”
Once he found out he was going last, Yul spent every morning and afternoon that week practicing starting on pommel horse, visualizing being more nervous than he’d ever been. The preparation paid off.
“When I landed that dismount, I just put my hands up, I looked up, and it felt so good. It was like a very difficult year and a half being away from gymnastics. So to finally just land in that moment, it was nice.”
Event-by-Event Breakdown
Rings: No Shoulder Pain
One of Yul’s biggest concerns going into the meet was his shoulder. Throughout 2024—at Olympic Trials, US Championships, and Pacific Rim—he dealt with a serious injury but refused to get it checked out.
“I was too stubborn to go to the doctors the year of the Olympics because I didn’t want to hear if it was going to be bad news,” he admitted. “I knew that if I just didn’t know what the injury was and if I could just do the rehab, K-tape it, and just get through three strength skills for these last three meets, it would be okay.”
At Rocky Mountain Open, he got through rings without any shoulder pain. “I was so grateful and I was so happy because it actually felt like everything healed up.”
Vault: Playing It Safe
Although he’d been training two-and-a-half twisting vaults in the gym, Yul opted for a safer double full at the meet. “I knew my shoulders were really far forward on the vault, and I can’t afford a lot of falls right now. I really want to make it to Winter Cup.”
Parallel Bars: Showing Off
P-bars has always been one of Yul’s showcase events. Even with a simplified routine (no Bauman, no Harada), he was able to display his signature lines and flow.
High Bar: New Grips
Yul performed a Zuli min for only the second time in competition, working with brand-new grips that weren’t fully broken in yet. “I didn’t want to peel,” he said simply.
Floor: When Legs Go Dead
Floor proved to be one of the toughest events. Yul had never competed a full punch double front before, and after eight weeks of heavy training on a resi mat, his legs were exhausted.
“My legs were just honestly dead,” he explained. “After my two-and-a-half punch layout, I was like, I’m just going to do a layout, try and stick it, and finish the meet safely.”
The Secret Weapon: Cross-Training
During his time away from gymnastics, Yul didn’t just sit around. He developed a comprehensive cross-training program that may have actually made him better than before.
Daily Routine at Lifetime Fitness
- Running: One mile every single day (eventually hit a 5:26 mile)
- Press circuit: Daily upper body strength work
- Core circuit: Three sets of ten, 10-second holds
- Plank routine: Three-minute planks
- Ring strength work: Resistance training for gymnastics-specific movements
- Swimming, sauna, hot tub: Recovery and flexibility
“It really opened my eyes of how much you can do that isn’t gymnastics that can keep you in gymnastic shape,” Yul reflected. “I am actually more flexible today. My endurance is higher today.”
The results were so impressive that he convinced his gym owner, Beth Trammell, to get a treadmill for the gym. “I felt the difference in my endurance,” he said, referencing his first full pommel horse routine. “I need to keep that endurance up.”
Working at a Mason Jar Factory
One of the most humanizing parts of Yul’s story? He got a job working for a subcontractor at Ball, making mason jars, to keep himself on a schedule.
“Work started at 5:30 in the morning, and I took those hours because I knew it would keep me on schedule, waking up early for gym,” he explained. “I would literally wake up, go to work for eight and a half hours, go home, sit in my bed for 20 minutes and decompress from work, change into workout clothes, head to Lifetime.”
His competitive nature showed up even at the factory. The average person cleaned 40 pallets a day—Yul did over 230 in a single day and consistently hit 150+ daily.
“I kept that competitiveness in it,” he said with a smile.
Addressing the Suspension: Taking Full Responsibility
Yul didn’t shy away from the topic that kept him out of gymnastics for 16 months: missing whereabouts tests.
“All of it. I don’t blame anyone else but myself,” he said firmly. “At the end of the day, I didn’t update my whereabouts. I missed the test and I can’t blame anyone or complain. I have to suck it up.”
What Are Whereabouts?
For those unfamiliar with anti-doping protocols, athletes at the elite level must submit their location for a one-hour window every single day, updated every quarter. Drug testers can show up during that window unannounced.
“Every single quarter you have to go in and fill out where you’re going to be sleeping every single night, whether you have competitions, whether you’re going to be traveling,” Yul explained. “If something like a doctor’s appointment comes up, you have to remember to update the app before that time. It’s very strict.”
The system exists to prevent athletes from avoiding tests, but it’s also incredibly easy to forget a single update—and that’s what happened to Yul.
Systems to Prevent It Again
The experience left Yul feeling like he was “a criminal” and “on probation.” Now, he’s implemented strict systems.
“I literally wake up, I look at my app every single day now, and I’ve just made sure that’s like the first thing I do now,” he said. “I make sure it’s up to date. I make sure if I’m going out of town now that I put it in the moment I know, because I never want this to happen again.”
“I felt like I was on probation and I couldn’t even walk into a gym. I couldn’t even talk to little kids. For me, that is my gymnastics life—inspiring the youth. So to not even be able to coach or go work at camps or even be in the realm, it just shocked me. It’s scarred me in a positive way.”
Why He’s Really Back: Love for the Sport
The most powerful moment of the conversation came when Yul explained why he’s coming back.
“I shouldn’t go back into gymnastics to go and reach the Olympics. I should go back because I love it,” he said. “And if I love it enough, it will lead me to the national team. Love will lead me to the world team. Love will lead me to the Olympic team. Love will overpower all these hard days that require being a gymnast.”
During his time away, Yul explored life outside of gymnastics—DJing at clubs in Denver, working a 9-to-5 job, sleeping in, seeing friends. He needed to answer one fundamental question: Do I still love this sport?
“I realized I’m in love with this sport still,” he concluded.
What’s Next: 2026-2028 Goals
Yul’s immediate focus is Winter Cup, happening in just four weeks. After qualifying at Rocky Mountain Open, his goals are clear:
- Earn spot back on senior national team
- Make American Cup (if selected based on Winter Cup performance)
- Compete at World Cups to debut his signature skill: the peach half Healy
- Make 2026 US Championships
- Make 2026 World Championships team
- Earn world medals (team and individual)
- Build toward 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
The Peach Half Healy
If Yul competes this skill at a World Cup or major international competition, it will be named after him in the Code of Points. He’s been training it since 2020 but hasn’t had the opportunity to compete it.
“I see it’s been going around,” he noted, aware that other gymnasts are working on it. “If I make the World Cup, I’m just going to do it.”
Advice for Athletes Going Through Setbacks
When asked what advice he’d give to other athletes facing their own challenges, Yul’s answer was profound:
“You gotta find the grounds of why you’re doing what you’re doing, even if everything goes bad. I thought about Brody’s injury a lot during my time and how much he was out and what he accomplished—from an injury to an Olympic medalist.”
“For me, it was day by day. What can I do to be better? Even though there are things that I cannot do right now, what can I do to get better? And I think that’s the advice I would give to anyone. Don’t think about a year away or two years. Think about what can I do today to get better.”
“I was scared coming back. I was nervous. This isn’t a given. I am 29, gonna be 30 this year. Nothing’s given. So for me, I just had to take it day by day and not think about, am I gonna make this or not? It was the effort that I was giving that I could be peaceful with.”
Key Takeaways
- Love for the sport matters more than medals — Yul’s comeback is driven by genuine passion, not external validation
- Cross-training works — Running, swimming, and strength work kept him competitive during time away
- Accountability is powerful — Owning mistakes publicly builds trust and credibility
- Systems prevent problems — Daily app checks ensure whereabouts compliance
- Day-by-day approach — Focus on daily improvement, not distant goals
- Mental preparation matters — Visualizing pressure situations during training pays off in competition
- Age is just a number — At 29, competing at elite level is possible with smart training
- Finding yourself outside the sport — Time away helped Yul rediscover his “why”
Episode Timestamps
Jump to specific moments in the video:
- 0:00 – Introduction & Transparency Note
- 1:03 – Rocky Mountain Open: Stepping Back Into Competition
- 1:46 – Getting Emotional Before the Meet
- 2:47 – Starting on Pommel Horse
- 4:36 – Hearing the Crowd Support
- 5:39 – Event Breakdown: Rings & Shoulder Injury
- 7:26 – Vault: Playing It Safe
- 7:57 – Parallel Bars: Showing Off
- 9:21 – High Bar: New Grips Challenge
- 9:51 – Floor: When Legs Go Dead
- 12:17 – Walking Into the Venue
- 14:16 – National Anthem Ritual
- 15:54 – Cross-Training: The Secret Weapon
- 22:46 – A Day in the Life: Working at the Mason Jar Factory
- 25:34 – Sauna Meditation & Mental Training
- 28:57 – Did You Ever Question Coming Back?
- 38:13 – “I Should Go Back Because I Love It”
- 39:09 – Addressing the Suspension: Taking Responsibility
- 41:03 – Explaining Whereabouts Requirements
- 44:01 – Systems to Never Let It Happen Again
- 46:22 – Future Goals: Winter Cup to 2028 Olympics
- 47:25 – The Peach Half Healy: Getting It Named
- 49:02 – Thoughts on Mixed Pairs Competition
- 53:02 – The Tour Family: Support During Suspension
- 1:00:18 – Advice for Athletes Going Through Setbacks
- 1:02:25 – “Take It Day By Day”
- 1:03:54 – Thank You to Family, Friends & Fans
Watch, Listen, Subscribe
GymnasticsVille Podcast Episode 1 is available now on all platforms:
- YouTube: Watch the full video episode
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About GymnasticsVille Podcast
GymnasticsVille is a long-form podcast featuring conversations with the athletes, coaches, and leaders shaping competitive gymnastics. From elite competition to life after the sport—real stories, unfiltered.
Hosted by: Mubarak Simmons (fka Midknight Robin)
Co-Hosts: Taqiy Simmons & Kerry Adderly
Produced by: GymCrew Talent Management
About Yul Moldauer
Yul Moldauer is a two-time World Championships medalist (2017, 2023) and 2020 Olympian. He was the 2017 NCAA All-Around Champion and 2019 US National Champion. After a 16-month suspension, Yul returned to competition in January 2026 at the Rocky Mountain Open with his sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Follow Yul: @yulmoldauer on Instagram
Website: yulmoldauer.com
Join the Conversation
What moment from Yul’s story resonated with you most? Share your thoughts in the comments below or join the conversation on social media:
- Instagram: @gymnasticsville
- GymCrew: @gymcrew
- Email: admin@gym-crew.com
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