Olympics 2024: Brody Malone's Dad Will Bring You to Tears With Moving Letter to Gymnast

Olympic bronze medal gymnast Brody Malone's dad John recounted how his mother Tracey's death propelled the sports star to become one of the best athletes in the world in emotional video message.

By Brett M Malec Jul 30, 2024 3:30 PM
| Updated Jul 30, 2024 3:32 PM
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Get ready to cry ugly tears.

U.S. gymnast Brody Malone received some epic words of encouragement from his father John Malone of the same day he and Team USA won the bronze medal in the men's team final on July 29 during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"I want to tell you about my oldest boy Brody," John shared in an emotional video letter posted by NBC News on X (formerly known as Twitter). "He was born with his mother's smile and with my fire for competition. After he broke his arm climbing out of his crib when he was two, we got him into gymnastics so he could get all of his energy out."

John went on to recount how, after he and wife Tracey Malone met in college in an equestrian program, they decided to raise their kids in a small town in Georgia—Cedar Town to be exact.

"It was a great place for Brody to grow up," he continued. "That was until 2012 when we lost our Trace to cancer."

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Olympic Gymnasts: Where Are They Now?

According to John, the family's tragic loss only motivated Brody to become one of the best athletes in the world.

"Like me, Brody doesn't like to show his emotions too much," he noted. "So, I think he buried himself in competition and let all of his pain out through sports."

And John—who also shares kids Cooper, Tyler and Briley with his late wife—knows just how proud Tracey would be to see how much the 24-year-old has accomplished today.

"Competing at the Olympics was a dream Brody and his mom had together," he concluded, before pausing to wipe away tears." I know Tracey's watching over Brody still and I can see her smile and hear her laugh and feel her joy. So, son, go get 'em tonight. Your mom and I are so proud of you."

Naomi Baker/Getty Images

And get 'em he did. Brody—alongside teammates Asher Hong, Frederick Richard, Paul Juda and Stephen Nedoroscik—placed third and took home the U.S. men's gymnastics team's first medal at the Olympics since 2008.

Making Brody's accomplishment even more impressive was the fact that just over a year ago, he suffered a devastating knee injury when he fell on his dismount at the DTB Cup in Germany in March 2023.

Daniela Porcelli/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

However, Brody made a miraculous comeback and won the U.S. gymnastics championships a year later. 

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