Rio de Janeiro: Kohei Uchimura completed his collection of gymnastics titles on Monday by leading Japan to men’s Olympics team gold, with Russia returning to the podium for the first time since 2000 to take silver.
But two-time reigning champions China were restricted to bronze in a thrilling final which went down to the wire at the Rio Olympic Arena. The 27-year-old Uchimura had already won all-around gold in London 2012 and 10 world medals including six consecutive individual titles.
But despite his individual accolades the gymnast known as “King Kohei” had taken just two silver in the Olympic team event behind China in 2008 and 2012.
“We put in a lot of effort to come this far. This was the event in which I wanted to win gold,” Uchimura said of his sixth Games medal, with the possibility of two more in the all-around and on floor to come.
China were devastated by the loss of a title which represents everything to the country, after losing their world crown last year to Japan. Team leader Zhang Chenglong, the only member of the 2012 gold-medal winning team, paid tribute to their rivals.
“We have to be happy for Japan because every athlete wants to be the best,” said 27-year-old Zhang. “Team gold is the most important and precious for us Chinese because everyone has to be excellent. You have to be solid and united.”
Victory put Japan back on top of the podium for the first time since 2004 with a seventh gold in an event the country dominated through five Olympic Games in the 1960s and 1970s.
