Asher Hong is in a strong position to capture his second U.S. Gymnastics Championships all-around title, as the Olympic bronze medalist built a record lead after the opening night of competition on Thursday in New Orleans.

The 21-year-old Stanford student recorded 85.585 points on Thursday, leaving him well ahead of Oklahoma’s Fuzzy Benas (81.105) and Stanford’s Colt Walker (81.058).

“Just a little bit better than training,” a joking Hong said on Peacock. “All the work in the gym is what makes it happen here. As long as I know I put in the work in the gym, I can come to the competition confident, without any worries, without any regrets.”

According to NBC Sports, Hong’s 4.48-point lead is the record after the first of two days at the men’s national championship under the current format (since 2006). The old mark of 3.7 was set by Paul Hamm in 2008.

Hong, the 2023 U.S. all-around champ, sits in second place on the floor exercise (14.808), the still rings (14.818) and the parallel bars (14.100). He was part of the U.S. team that finished third overall at the Paris Olympics last year.

Benas is third on the high bar (13.655), while Walker is the leader on the parallel bars (14.408).

Reigning all-around champion Brody Malone isn’t in contention to retain the title as he is sitting out the vault and floor exercise as he nurses a right knee injury.

Arguably the most famous person in the competition is “Pommel Horse Guy” from the Paris Games, Stephen Nedoroscik. The Olympic bronze medalist in his specialty, he sits in fifth place on the pommel horse at 14.200.

Following his success last summer, he didn’t get back to training until May.

“I literally thought it was impossible for me to be back on this stage this quickly, but I’ve done it, I did a routine and I’m happy with it,” he told NBC Sports.

The women’s competition — minus Olympic champions Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey — begins Friday night.

–Field Level Media