Fuzzy Benas

Last updated

Fuzzy Benas
Full nameAydon Benas
Nickname(s)Fuzzy
Country represented United States
Born (2002-09-25) September 25, 2002 (age 22)
Albany, New York, U.S.
Hometown Richmond, Texas, U.S.
Residence Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.
Height5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Discipline Men's artistic gymnastics
Years on national team2024–present
College team Oklahoma Sooners
Head coach(es) Mark Williams
Medal record
Representing the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners logo.svg
NCAA Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2022 Norman Team
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2024 Columbus Team
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2024 Columbus All-around

Aydon "Fuzzy" Benas (born September 25, 2002) is an American artistic gymnast. He is a member of the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team and is currently competing for the Oklahoma Sooners men's gymnastics team in NCAA gymnastics.

Contents

Early life and education

Benas was born September 25, 2002, in Albany, New York, to Shannon and Adam Benas. [1] His parents gave him the nickname Fuzzy when they were getting a sonogram and wanted to know the gender – the nurse said the picture was "too fuzzy" to tell, so they started calling him that before he was even born. [2] His hometown is Richmond, Texas and he attended Travis High School. He enrolled at the University of Oklahoma to pursue gymnastics.

Gymnastics career

Benas was the 2018 co-national champion in the 15–16 age division alongside Isaiah Drake and Justin Ah Chow. [3] At the 2019 Winter Cup Benas won gold on rings and placed fourth in the all-around. [4]

In early 2020 Benas competed at the 2020 Winter Cup where he placed first in the all-around and on rings. [5] The remainder of competitions in 2020 were either canceled or postponed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. In November of that year Benas signed his National Letter of Intent with the Oklahoma Sooners. [6]

2022–23

Benas became age-eligible for senior-level competition in 2022. He competed at the 2022 Winter Cup where he placed eleventh in the all-around. [7] He competed at the NCAA Championships where he helped Oklahoma finish second as a team. He was named College Gymnastics Association's Rookie of the Year. [8]

After the end of the college season, Benas underwent shoulder surgery and spent the next few months recovering. [2] In October he severed a nerve in his hand during a pumpkin carving accident. [2] Right after Benas was medically clear to restart training, he tore his ACL. [2] As a result, Benas did not compete during the 2023 NCAA season.

Benas returned to competition in August to compete at the 2023 U.S. Classic and the 2023 U.S. National Championships, although he did not compete on all six apparatuses. [9]

2024

Benas made his elite all-around return at the 2024 Winter Cup where he placed sixth. As a result, he was added to the senior national team for the first time. [10] Additionally Benas was selected to compete at the DTB Pokal Mixed Cup in Stuttgart alongside Riley Loos, Kai Uemura, Addison Fatta, Dulcy Caylor, and Nola Matthews. While there he helped the USA finish first as a team. [11]

At the 2024 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championship, Benas helped Oklahoma finish third as a team. Individually he placed third in the all-around behind Khoi Young and Fred Richard. [12] He was named CGA's Gymnast of the Year. [13]

Benas next competed at the U.S. National Championships where he finished eleventh and was added to the national team. [14] As a result he qualified to compete at the 2024 Olympic Trials where he ultimately finished sixth. [15]

Competitive history

YearEventTeamAA FX PH SR VT PB HB
Junior
2018 U.S. National Championships (15–16)Gold medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svg13Gold medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svg14Bronze medal icon.svg
2019 RD761 International Junior Team CupSilver medal icon.svg985Silver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svg
Winter Cup 458Gold medal icon.svg5913
Elite Team CupGold medal icon.svg
International Junior Team CupGold medal icon.svg7Silver medal icon.svgGold medal icon.svg
2020 Elite Team CupGold medal icon.svg
Winter Cup Bronze medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svg8668Gold medal icon.svg
Senior
2022 Winter Cup 11102312877
NCAA Championships Silver medal icon.svg
2023 U.S. Classic 25171310
U.S. National Championships 10231738
2024 Winter Cup 61015121410
DTB Pokal Mixed Cup Gold medal icon.svg
NCAA Championships Bronze medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svg
U.S. National Championships 11107151413
Olympic Trials 678114
Arthur Gander Memorial7
Swiss Cup

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References

  1. "USAG Profile: Fuzzy Benas". USA Gymnastics .
  2. 1 2 3 4 "02 Feb Call it a Comeback – Oklahoma's Fuzzy Benas is back, and better than ever". Inside Gymnastics. February 2, 2024.
  3. "Briones takes 17–18 division crown, with a trio finishing first for 15–16 division at 2018 U.S. Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics . August 18, 2018.
  4. "Mikulak wins five event medals, Walker takes junior all-around title at 2019 Winter Cup Challenge". USA Gymnastics . February 18, 2019.
  5. "Mikulak wins four event medals, Benas claims Junior All-Around Title at 2020 Winter Cup Challenge". USA Gymnastics . February 24, 2020.
  6. "Men's Gym Signs Four for 2021". Oklahoma Sooners . November 10, 2020.
  7. "Guimaraes takes men's senior all-around title at 2022 Winter Cup Presented by OZONE and TURN; five gymnasts automatically qualify to National Team". USA Gymnastics . February 26, 2022.
  8. "Benas Secures CGA Rookie of the Year". Oklahoma Sooners . April 14, 2022.
  9. "Hong rallies for U.S. men's title at Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics . August 27, 2023.
  10. "Moldauer surges on Day 2 to take senior men's Winter Cup gold; Senior National Team is renamed". USA Gymnastics . February 25, 2024.
  11. "Weekend Recap: MAG/WAG DTB Pokal Team Challenge and Mixed Cup; RG Aphrodite Cup". USA Gymnastics . March 18, 2024.
  12. "Sooners Place Third at NCAA Championships". Oklahoma Sooners . April 20, 2024.
  13. "Benas, Dodanli Win National Awards". Oklahoma Sooners . April 18, 2024.
  14. "Malone takes third career all-around title; Senior Men's National Team named at Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics . June 2, 2024.
  15. "USA Gymnastics announces 2024 Men's Olympic Team". USA Gymnastics . June 29, 2024.