Interview With Brigham Frentheway

How old were you when you started gymnastics, and what originally drew you to the sport?

I started gymnastics when I was about 10 years old. Growing up as the youngest of nine with five older brothers, I was always drawn to things that were exciting. What hooked me was just how cool it all looked, flipping through the air, doing things that felt almost impossible. I loved that "wow" factor of gymnastics.

What was your favorite meet, your favorite and least favorite events, and the hardest/easiest skill you ever trained?

One of my favorite competitions was the 2025 conference championships at the Air Force Academy. We stayed calm, competed like we were at home, and when Tosh stuck his rings dismount, it was like the final stamp. Seeing our team celebrate is unforgettable. My favorite events were floor and high bar. I loved training both, especially competing floor, because you could just let it rip. Least favorites were pommel horse and p-bars. Hardest skills were things like Cassina or a Lukin on high-bar. Funny enough, one of the skills I struggled with most, even though it wasn't the most difficult on paper, was a Stalder on high bar.

Gymnastics is incredibly mental. What was your hardest struggle during your time as a gymnast? How did you deal with nerves, pressure, and getting in your head or temporarily "losing" a skill?

Gymnastics is so mental, it's like 80% of it. When I was younger, learning twisting double flips and dealing with the twisties was brutal. I was scared and even thought about quitting. What kept me going was asking myself if I'd regret walking away. Later, I learned not to let fear consume me, to just trust the training. Competing, especially on floor, I'd take that deep breath and everything felt still. The floor looked calm, and I'd just let go. Some of my best routines happened when I stopped trying to control everything and just trusted myself.

What was your biggest accomplishment in the sport, and did you ever want to do college gymnastics?

Making it to OU was a dream, but honestly, what I'm most proud of is the growth. I came in as the weakest guy, lost events, had setbacks, then worked back to contributing on four events and becoming a team captain. That journey means more than any medal. And yeah, college gymnastics was always the goal. I grew up watching guys like Jake Dalton, Jonathan Horton, Yul Moldauer, and wanting that same thing.

How did you cope when your time as a gymnast ended, and did you transition into coaching or are you currently still competing?

I didn't really have to cope when it ended. I'm genuinely at peace with my career. I got a lot out of it and I'm ready for what's next. Gymnastics was something I did, not who I am. Now I'm putting that same energy into medicine, which I'm super passionate about. I still coach women's gymnastics on the side and work out. I carry it with me, but I'm onto a new chapter.

Who was your gymnastics role model, and what advice would you give to someone starting the sport for the first time?

I didn't really have a single in gym role model since we were all the same age, but I definitely looked up to guys like Jake Dalton, Jonathan Horton, Kohei Uchimura, Epke Zonderland, and later on, guys like Nile Wilson and Jake Jarman. My advice? Always believe in yourself, work hard, but don't lose the fun. Gymnastics demands perfection, sure, but the real joy is getting better, surprising yourself and doing things you never thought you could. Fear shows up for everyone, but it doesn't define you. Just keep going and keep that spark.

What two goals you want to achieve in the sport of gymnastics?

Since I'm done competing, my goals now are to keep promoting and bringing light to men's gymnastics and supporting the OU program and the guys still chasing it, and doing whatever I can to help them bring home a national championship. It still means a lot to me to see the sport and that team thrive.