Gymnastics at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, day-by-day
As the world's best gymnasts prepare to make history in Tokyo, here's a look at what to expect each day of competition
Artistic gymnastics competition at Tokyo 2020 kicks off Saturday, 24 July. The main event will be USA's Simone Biles, as the gymnastics superstar looks to add more to her four gold and one bronze medal haul from Rio 2016. By the end of competition, 3 August, Biles could have added her name to the history books multiple times.
On the men's side ROC's Nikita Nagornyy, the reigning world and European champion, will look to extend his reign over the sport.
Here's what to look for each day of competition, day-by-day.
Men's qualifying kicks off gymnastics competition in Tokyo
24 July, men’s qualifying: Though no medals are at stake on the opening day of competition, a bad day here could prevent an athlete from making the medal rounds. With only two per country allowed in each final, watch the battle between Japanese and Chinese men. Will their depth be heartbreaking?
Simone Biles makes her Tokyo debut
25 July, women’s qualifying: Like the men, the first day of women’s competition determines who will compete in the various medal rounds.
If Simone Biles is to win five gold medals in Tokyo, she’ll have to make the finals here. She’ll be the star, but keep an eye on U.S. teammate Suni Lee, who could also advance to five finals if she has a good day.
The two-per-country rule will be in full force with the Americans, Chinese and ROC athletes likely to battle with their compatriots for berths to the medal rounds.
Men's team final will award first gymnastics medals
26 July, men’s team final: Competition in the men’s team final is likely to come down to ROC, China and Japan. Those three have won the medals at both the 2018 and 2019 worlds. ROC faces an uphill battle to take the crown in Tokyo with star Artur Dalaloyan on the mend from an Achilles tendon tear in mid-April.
Team USA and Simone Biles go for third-straight team title
27 July, women’s team final: Biles and Team USA (Lee, Jordan Chiles and Grace McCallum) will be the heavy favourites for team gold in Tokyo. A win would give the Americans their third-straight gold medal at the Games, a feat not seen since the Soviet Union won eight straight from 1952-1980. The battle for silver and bronze will come down to ROC and China, with both teams having plenty of talent if they can deliver when it matters most.
Can Nikita Nagornyy continue his reign?
28 July, men’s all-around: 2019 world all-around champion Nikita Nagornyy is the odds-on favourite for all-around gold at the Olympic Games. Nagornyy has dominated the sport since winning his first of two European titles in 2019. With Dalaloyan, the 2018 world champion and 2019 runner-up, likely reduced to four events, the podium becomes more wide open. Contenders for silver and bronze include 2017 world all-around champion XIAO Ruoteng of China, HASHIMOTO Daiki and KAYA Kazuma of Japan, and David Belyavskiy of ROC.
Simone Biles chases history in quest to become first woman to defend all-around titles in more than half a century
29 July, women’s all-around final: In the women’s all-around final, Biles will, again, be the heavy favourite to take the title. Her back-to-back win would only be the third in history, joining Vera Caslavska (1964, 1968) and Larisa Latynina (1956, 1960). Whichever American joins Biles in the final instantly becomes the favourite for silver. After outscoring Biles at U.S. trials in late June, Lee certainly has the momentum but Chiles has also had a stellar 2021, hitting every routine she’s performed in competition.
Bronze will likely come down to two athletes from ROC (Viktoria Listunova, the reigning European champion, Angelina Melnikova, the 2019 world all-around bronze medallist, and Vladislava Urazova), two Chinese, including 2019 runner-up Tang Xijing, and a handful of others like France’s Melanie de Jesus dos Santos, Canada’s Ellie Black, Belgium’s Nina Derwael and Japan’s Murakami Mai. Individual qualifiers Larisa Iordache of Romania and Rebeca Andrade of Brazil also have the goods to challenge.
Apparatus finals feature historic chance for Carlos Yulo of the Philippines
1 August, apparatus finals day 1: The first day of apparatus finals features men’s floor and pommel horse and women’s vault and uneven bars. Men’s floor is likely to be battle between Nagornyy and the Philippines’ Carlos Yulo. A medal of any colour would be historic for Yulo. Pommel horse is likely to come down to 2016 champ Max Whitlock of Team GB and Ireland’s Rhys McClenaghan.
Biles will likely compete in at least the vault final. A medal there – and she will be the gold medal favourite – is likely to be the first opportunity to tie Vitaly Scherbo’s overall world and Olympic gymnastics record haul. Lee and Derwael should create fireworks in the uneven bars final with their dueling, high-flying routines.
Can Simone Biles become the most decorated world and Olympic gymnast ever?
2 August, apparatus finals day 2: Day two of the apparatus final features men’s still rings and vault and women’s floor. Rings will be a battle of strong men like world champion Ibrahim Colak of Turkey and Rio gold medallist Eleftherios Petrounias. France’s Samir Ait Said has the potential for an emotional medal after coming back from a horrific leg injury suffered at Rio 2016. The daring men’s vault final is always thrilling and Nagornyy will be the favourite there.
The women’s floor exercise will be all about Biles, the reigning Olympic and World champion. She owns five World titles in the event. If all has gone as planned to this point, Biles will be seeking her 34th World and Olympic medal here.
Artistic gymnastics comes to a close at Tokyo 2020
3 August, apparatus finals day 3: The artistic gymnastics competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games wraps up on 3 August with men’s parallel bars and horizontal bar and women’s balance beam. China’s Zou Jingyuan will be looking for redemption after an error at the 2019 Worlds kept him from the final on his signature event. If he hits it in Tokyo, he should walk away with gold. Horizontal bar could be the fourth and final gold medal for Japanese legend UCHIMURA Kohei who comes to Tokyo to only compete on the event. Other contenders include world champion Arthur Nory of Brazil and USA’s Sam Mikulak.
Balance beam is the event where Biles took bronze in Rio after grabbing the apparatus on a front tuck. She’s been clear she wants redemption here and it could also be a chance at a 35th overall global medal. The field on the event is deep with several contenders from China, Rio champion Sanne Wevers of the Netherlands and others ready to challenge.