BERLIN, April 5, 2019 – The USA edged out Russia to win the team gold medal at the 2019 International Junior Team Cup at Berlin’s Large Sports Hall of the Sportforum. Isaiah Drake of Van Nuys, Calif./Gymnastics Olympica, and J.R. Chou of Cypress, Texas/Cypress Academy of Gymnastics, won the all-around silver and bronze medals, respectively. Competition concludes tomorrow with individual event finals at 2 p.m. Berlin time, which is six hours ahead of U.S. eastern time.

Team USA posted a six-event total of 238.950 to bring home the team gold medal. Russia was right on the Americans’ heels at 238.450. The U.S. team’s event scores were: floor exercise, 40.600; pommel horse, 38.700; still rings, 40.200; vault, 42.600; parallel bars, 38.450; and horizontal bar, 38.400. Italy claimed the bronze at 234.500. The members of the four-man team are Fuzzy Benas of Richmond, Texas/Enrich Gymnastics, Colt Walker of Cedar Park, Texas/AcroTex Gymnastics, Chou and Drake. In the team competition, 38 teams from 26 countries competed.

In the all-around, Drake tallied a 79.800, just 0.25 behind Brazil’s Diogo Soares’ 80.050. Chou earned a 79.000 and the bronze. All four of the U.S. gymnasts finished in the top 10, with Benas in 7th place (78.200) and Walker in ninth (77.900).

The U.S. gymnasts’ individual event scores were the following.

  • Drake: floor exercise, 13.250; pommel horse, 13.300; still rings, 13.450; vault, 13.650; parallel bars, 13.050; and horizontal bar, 13.100.
  • Chou: floor exercise, 13.500; pommel horse, 13.550; still rings, 12.800; vault, 13.900; parallel bars, 12.850; and horizontal bar, 12.400.
  • Benas: floor exercise, 13.500; pommel horse, 11.400; still rings, 13.500; vault, 14.650; parallel bars,12.550; and horizontal bar, 12.600.
  • Walker: floor exercise, 13.600; pommel horse, 11.850; still rings, 13.250; vault, 14.050; parallel bars, 12.450; and horizontal bar, 12.700.

Live scoring and more information are available on the official website.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its safe sport policies and procedures. Former gymnast and business executive Li Li Leung is the new president and chief executive officer of USA Gymnastics. The organization’s disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and gymnastics for all (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, visit usagym.org.