Former Sooner Naddour Takes Bronze In Pommel Horse

Alex Naddour became the first American to medal in pommel horse in 32 years Sunday afternoon, capping the Olympic run for Oklahoma’s former Sooners at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro.

Naddour scored a 15.700 on the horse, finishing in third to take the bronze behind Great Britain’s Max Whitlock (15.966) and Louis Smith (15.833). The medal meant a great deal to the 25-year-old Naddour who was an alternate for Team USA at the 2012 Games in London.

“I keep thinking, ‘Wake up.’ I feel like I’m dreaming,” Naddour said “This is exactly what I wanted since I was a young kid, to go out and hit a great routine, score the highest I’ve ever scored in my life out of country. And at the Olympic Games. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

Naddour wasn’t the only former Sooner in action Sunday. Jake Dalton competed in the event finals in floor exercise along with fellow Team USA member Sam Mikulak. Dalton scored a 15.133 to place sixth, just three tenths off third place. Mikulak finished eighth with a 14.333.

Naddour, Dalton and Team USA captain Chris Brooks, all former Sooners, made up three fifths on Team USA in Rio. The team took fifth at team finals after some trouble on floor in the opening rotation.

Gymnastics wraps up Monday and Tuesday with two more days of event finals. Mikulak and Danel Leyva will compete on high bar Tuesday with Leyva doing double duty and competing on parallel bars as well.