{{Short description|American gymnast}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox gymnast | name = Fuzzy Benas | image = | alt = | caption = | full_name = Aydon Benas | nickname = Fuzzy | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2002|09|25|mf=yes}} | birth_place = Albany, New York, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height = 5 ft 6 in | discipline = MAG | country = {{GYM National Team|USA|MAG}} | natlteam = 2024–2026 | collegeteam = Oklahoma Sooners | collegeyears = 2022–present | gym = EnRich Gymnastics | headcoach = Mark Williams | assistcoach = {{ubl|Valeriy Honcharov|Genki Suzuki}} | retired = | show-medals = yes | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's artistic gymnastics}} {{MedalCountry|Oklahoma Sooners}} center|40px {{MedalCompetition|NCAA Championships}} {{MedalSilver|2022 Norman|Team}} {{MedalSilver|2026 Champaign|Team}} {{MedalBronze|2024 Columbus|Team}} {{MedalBronze|2024 Columbus|All-around}} {{MedalBronze|2025 Ann Arbor|Team}} {{MedalBronze|2025 Ann Arbor|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.
==Early life and education== Benas was born September 25, 2002, in Albany, New York, to Shannon and Adam Benas.<ref name=usag>{{cite web|url=https://members.usagym.org/pages/athletes/nationalTeamMen.html?id=441636|title=USAG Profile: Fuzzy Benas|work=USA Gymnastics}}</ref> 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.<ref name=interview2024>{{cite web|url=https://www.insidegymnastics.com/news-features/2024-mens-ncaa-gymnastics-call-it-a-comeback-oklahomas-fuzzy-benas-is-back-and-better-than-ever/|title=02 Feb Call it a Comeback – Oklahoma’s Fuzzy Benas is back, and better than ever|work=Inside Gymnastics|date=February 2, 2024}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://usagym.org/briones-takes-17-18-division-crown-with-a-trio-finishing-first-for-15-16-division-at-2018-u-s-gymnastics-championships/|title=Briones takes 17–18 division crown, with a trio finishing first for 15–16 division at 2018 U.S. Gymnastics Championships|work=USA Gymnastics|date=August 18, 2018}}</ref> At the 2019 Winter Cup Benas won gold on rings and placed fourth in the all-around.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://usagym.org/mikulak-wins-five-event-medals-walker-takes-junior-all-around-title-at-2019-winter-cup-challenge/|title=Mikulak wins five event medals, Walker takes junior all-around title at 2019 Winter Cup Challenge|date=February 18, 2019|work=USA Gymnastics}}</ref>
In early 2020, Benas competed at the 2020 Winter Cup where he placed first in the all-around and on rings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://usagym.org/mikulak-wins-four-event-medals-benas-claims-junior-all-around-title-at-2020-winter-cup-challenge/|title=Mikulak wins four event medals, Benas claims Junior All-Around Title at 2020 Winter Cup Challenge|work=USA Gymnastics|date=February 24, 2020}}</ref> The remainder of the 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soonersports.com/news/2020/11/10/mens-gymnastics-mens-gym-signs-four-for-2021|title=Men's Gym Signs Four for 2021|date=November 10, 2020|work=Oklahoma Sooners}}</ref>
===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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://usagym.org/guimaraes-takes-mens-senior-all-around-title-at-2022-winter-cup-presented-by-ozone-and-turn-five-gymnasts-automatically-qualify-to-national-team/|title=Guimaraes takes men’s senior all-around title at 2022 Winter Cup Presented by OZONE and TURN; five gymnasts automatically qualify to National Team|work=USA Gymnastics|date=February 26, 2022}}</ref> 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''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soonersports.com/news/2022/4/14/mens-gymnastics-benas-secures-cga-rookie-of-the-year.aspx|title=Benas Secures CGA Rookie of the Year|work=Oklahoma Sooners|date=April 14, 2022}}</ref>
After the end of the college season, Benas underwent shoulder surgery and spent the next few months recovering.<ref name=interview2024 /> In October, he severed a nerve in his hand during a pumpkin carving accident.<ref name=interview2024 /> Right after Benas was medically cleared to restart training, he suffered an Achilles tendon rupture.<ref name=interview2024 /> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://usagym.org/hong-rallies-for-u-s-mens-title-at-xfinity-u-s-gymnastics-championships/|title=Hong rallies for U.S. men’s title at Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships|date=August 27, 2023|work=USA Gymnastics}}</ref>
===2024–25=== 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://usagym.org/moldauer-surges-on-day-2-to-take-senior-mens-winter-cup-gold-senior-national-team-is-renamed/|title=Moldauer surges on Day 2 to take senior men’s Winter Cup gold; Senior National Team is renamed|date=February 25, 2024|work=USA Gymnastics}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://usagym.org/weekend-recap-mag-wag-dtb-pokal-team-challenge-and-mixed-cup-rg-aphrodite-cup/|title=Weekend Recap: MAG/WAG DTB Pokal Team Challenge and Mixed Cup; RG Aphrodite Cup|date=March 18, 2024|work=USA Gymnastics}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soonersports.com/news/2024/4/20/mens-gymnastics-sooners-place-third-at-ncaa-championships|title=Sooners Place Third at NCAA Championships|date=April 20, 2024|work=Oklahoma Sooners}}</ref> He was named CGA's ''Gymnast of the Year''.<ref name=CGA2024>{{cite web|url=https://soonersports.com/news/2024/4/18/mens-gymnastics-benas-dodanli-win-national-awards|title=Benas, Dodanli Win National Awards|date=April 18, 2024|work=Oklahoma Sooners}}</ref>
Benas next competed at the 2024 U.S. National Championships where he finished eleventh and was added to the national team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://usagym.org/malone-takes-third-career-all-around-title-senior-mens-national-team-named-at-xfinity-u-s-gymnastics-championships/|title=Malone takes third career all-around title; Senior Men’s National Team named at Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships|date=June 2, 2024|work=USA Gymnastics}}</ref> As a result he qualified to compete at the 2024 Olympic Trials where he ultimately finished sixth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://usagym.org/usa-gymnastics-announces-2024-mens-olympic-team/|title=USA Gymnastics announces 2024 Men’s Olympic Team|date=June 29, 2024|work=USA Gymnastics}}</ref>
Benas's injuries continued into 2025 as he had surgery on his thumb in January.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=August 7, 2025 |title=5 QUESTIONS WITH FUZZY BENAS |url=https://www.insidegymnastics.com/news-features/5-questions-with-fuzzy-benas-2025-xfinity-gymnastics-championships/ |magazine=Inside Gymnastics |access-date=August 8, 2025}}</ref> In August he competed at the 2025 National Championships where he won bronze in the all-around behind Asher Hong and Fred Richard.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soonersports.com/news/2025/8/9/mens-gymnastics-benas-wins-bronze-at-us-championships|title=Benas Wins Bronze at U.S. Championships|date=August 9, 2025|work=Oklahoma Sooners}}</ref>
==Competitive history== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%;" |- |+Competitive history of Fuzzy Benas at the junior level ! scope="col" align=center|Year ! scope="col" align=center|Event ! scope="col" style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|Team|Team event}} ! scope="col" style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|AA|All-around}} ! scope="col" style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|FX|Floor exercise}} ! scope="col" style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|PH|Pommel horse}} ! scope="col" style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|SR|Still rings}} ! scope="col" style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|VT|Vault}} ! scope="col" style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|PB|Parallel bars}} ! scope="col" style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|HB|Horizontal bar}} |- ! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="1" | '''2018''' | align=left | U.S. National Championships (15–16) || || {{gold1}} || {{gold1}} || 13 || {{gold1}} || {{bronze3}} || 14 || {{bronze3}} |- ! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="4" | '''2019''' | align=left | RD761 International Junior Team Cup || {{silver2}} || 9 || 8 || 5 || || {{silver2}} || || {{bronze3}} |- | align=left | Winter Cup || || 4 || 5 || 8 || {{gold1}} || 5 || 9 || 13 |- | align=left | Elite Team Cup || {{gold1}} || || || || || || || |- | align=left | International Junior Team Cup || {{gold1}} || 7 || || || {{silver2}} || {{gold1}} || || |- ! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | '''2020''' | align=left | Elite Team Cup || {{gold1}} || || || || || || || |- | align=left | Winter Cup || || {{bronze3}} || {{silver2}} || 8 || 6 || 6 || 8 || {{gold1}} |}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%;" |- |+Competitive history of Fuzzy Benas at the senior level ! scope="col" align=center|Year ! scope="col" align=center|Event ! scope="col" style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|Team|Team event}} ! scope="col" style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|AA|All-around}} ! scope="col" style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|FX|Floor exercise}} ! scope="col" style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|PH|Pommel horse}} ! scope="col" style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|SR|Still rings}} ! scope="col" style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|VT|Vault}} ! scope="col" style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|PB|Parallel bars}} ! scope="col" style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|HB|Horizontal bar}} |- ! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | '''2022''' | align=left | Winter Cup || || 11 || 10 || 23 || 12 || 8 || 7 || 7 |- | align=left | NCAA Championships || {{silver2}} || || || || || || || |- ! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | '''2023''' | align=left | U.S. Classic || || || || 25 || 17 || || 13 || 10 |- | align=left | U.S. National Championships || || || || 10 || 23 || || 17 || 38 |- ! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="7" | '''2024''' | align=left | Winter Cup || || 6 || 10 || 15 || 12 || || 14 || 10 |- | align=left | DTB Pokal Mixed Cup || {{gold1}} || || || || || || || |- | align=left | NCAA Championships || {{bronze3}} || {{bronze3}} || || || || || || |- | align=left | U.S. National Championships || || 11 || 10 || 7 || 15 || || 14 || 13 |- | align=left | Olympic Trials || || 6 || 7 || 8 || || || 11 || 4 |- | align=left | Arthur Gander Memorial || || 7 || || || || || || |- | align=left | Swiss Cup || 9 || || || || || || || |- ! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="3" | '''2025''' | align=left | Winter Cup || || || 7 || || || || || |- | align=left | NCAA Championships || {{bronze3}} || {{bronze3}} || 8 || 14 || 31 || 11 || 16 || 23 |- | align=left | U.S. National Championships || || {{bronze3}} || 8 || 11 || 18 || {{bronze3}} || 5 || 4 |- ! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | '''2026''' | align=left | Winter Cup || || 16 || 10 || 31 || 23 || || 11 || 23 |- | align=left | NCAA Championships || {{silver2}} || || 20 || || || 6 || 8 || 12 |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Sports links}} * [https://soonersports.com/sports/mens-gymnastics/roster/fuzzy-benas/16783 Fuzzy Benas] at Oklahoma Sooners
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benas, Fuzzy}} Category:2002 births Category:Living people Category:American male artistic gymnasts Category:Oklahoma Sooners men's gymnasts Category:Sportspeople from Richmond, Texas Category:21st-century American sportsmen