China’s men successfully defended their Team title from the Beijing 2008 Games, while Zou Kai retained his still Rings crown and Feng Zhe won his first Individual gold on the Parallel Bars. In the women’s event, China’s Deng Linlin won gold on the Beam ahead of team-mate Sui Lu who won silver – the only one-two finish in Gymnastics at the Games. China’s men finished below Great Britain in qualification but went on to win gold in the men’s event ahead of Japan, who matched their efforts in Beijing to win silver, with Britain earning bronze. Zhang Chenglong, a member of the victorious Chinese team, said: ‘Many people ask me about it being my first Olympic Games, but the opponents in other tournaments are the same as in the Olympics. Our rivals were not as strong as they had been in previous years so we kept a cool mind.’ Feng added: ‘We don’t have any faults. That is the way to succeed and beat the Japanese and everyone else.’
The USA women’s squad were crowned champions in the Team event for the first time since 1996, while Gabrielle Douglas won Individual All-Around gold and Alexandra Raisman claimed the Floor title. Russia won eight medals overall – Team silver in the women’s event, silver in the Individual All-Around for Viktoria Komova, gold for Aliya Mustafina on the Uneven Bars and bronze in the Individual All-Around and Floor exercise, and a bronze for Maria Paseka in the women’s Vault. Denis Ablyazin earned both of Russia’s medals in the men’s event with a silver on Vault and bronze on the Floor. Japan’s Gymnastics superstar Kohei Uchimura bounced back from a below-par performance in qualification to be crowned men’s Individual All-Around champion. He said: ‘In my experience, I am an ideal athlete for Artistic Gymnastics. I have a vision for how I can compete, play and practice. I want to establish something I can express.’ Epke Zonderland became the first Netherlands male gymnast to win an Olympic medal of any colour when he claimed gold on the Horizontal Bar thanks to an electrifying routine.
Brazil’s Arthur Nabarrete Zanetti won gold on the still Rings – the first Gymnastics gold for the country – and Yang Hak-Seon placed first in the men’s Vault. Along with their men’s Team bronze, Britain claimed silver and bronze on the Pommel Horse thanks to Louis Smith and Max Whitlock, while Beth Tweddle won bronze on the Uneven Bars in her last Olympic Games.
Hungary’s Krisztian Berki won gold on Pommel Horse. Berki and Smith were tied with the same final score, but Berki’s higher execution meant he claimed the title. Germany won three medals, All-Around and Parallel Bars silver for Marcel Nguyen and silver for Fabian Hambuchen on the Horizontal Bar. Romania collected a medal of each colour at the Games. Sandra Raluca Izbasa took gold on the Vault, Catalina Ponor took silver on the Floor exercise and the women’s Team earned bronze.
