“Trailing Ukrainian Oleg Verniaiev by nine-tenths of a point going into the final rotation, the 2012 all-around gold medalist scored 15.800 on the horizontal bar to pull into first with 92.365 overall points”. Delivering a fearless high bar with a gold medal on the line, the Japanese superstar put all the pressure on Ukraine’s Oleg Verniaiev.
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The same can’t be said of the gap between the US men’s gymnastics team and the medal podium at the Rio Olympics. The disparity has created a growing concern among those responsible for the program’s performance.
“Certainly finishing fifth pulls everything into question and we have to take a serious look at it”, said men’s national team coordinator Kevin Mazeika of the finish in the team finals. “That falls on my shoulders”.
There are still chances to win medals in individual events, but the men are even falling short of the 2012 effort.
The 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, Danell Leyva of the U.S., did not compete in Wednesday’s event.
The two USA men in the field, Sam Mikulak and Chris Brooks, finished seventh and 14th, respectively.
At the top of the leader board there was high drama.
While Uchimura was exulting in triumph, Verniaiev was basically just warming up. Performing last and needing a 14.899 for gold, Verniaiev appeared to have nailed it as the hushed crowd erupted, only to gasp minutes later when he received a 14.8, a full point below Uchimura’s high bar score. He completed a steady and clean routine with a slight hop on his landing. “The fact that we can compete with him is awesome”.
“There are no weak athletes in this sport, but the fact that we compete with this legend, with this guy who already since 2009 does not give up, would not let go of this title, I think that this is the coolest thing in the world”, said Verniaiev. “He’s the Michael Phelps of gymnastics”.
Max Whitlock took bronze, ending a 108-year medal-drought by British men in the all-around in 1908.
Mikulak’s last event was the floor exercise while all eyes were on high bar. I just perform as usual.
“It’s sheer guts and determination, I think”, he continued.
The U.S. women’s 4 x 200-meter team, anchored by Katie Ledecky, landed another gold medal on Wednesday night, while Nathan Adrian added a bronze in the 100-meter freestyle and Josh Prenot won silver in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke.
“After winning the team gold, it was tough to re-focus”.
Kohei Uchimura of Japan (centre) and team mates celebrate winning the men’s team final.
“Going onto the horizontal bar I knew what I had to do”. It’s ridiculous. They are on another level. The final high bar score was extremely great. But he began his final floor performance a touch frenetically, and something bothered him in his penultimate pass – before he made his final tumble, he visibly shook his head as if to clear it. Behind the scenes, apparently, it isn’t any different.
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“As I had made no mistakes in my practice for the high bar, I performed believing I could do what I did in the practice”, Uchimura said, putting on a display of highly hard skills and making a flawless landing, which caused him to pump his fist in delight. “I wouldn’t change anything, no regrets because I stuck every single routine that I did that day”.
