HASHIMOTO Daiki continues Japan's all-around reign at Tokyo 2020
After UCHIMURA Kohei's back-to-back wins, the 19-year-old gives Japan a third-straight all-around gold.
Artistic Gymnastics
HASHIMOTO Daiki is in good company.
The 19-year-old Japanese extended his country's winning ways Wednesday (28 July) at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre, capturing Japan's third straight men's gymnastics all-around title and following up on UCHIMURA Kohei's back-to-back wins in London 2012 and Rio 2016.
He totaled 88.465 across all six events to secure the gold. China's XIAO Ruoteng earned 88.065 for second. Pre-event favourite Nikita Nagornyy, the reigning world and European champion, won the bronze (88.031).
A relative newcomer, Hashimoto only competed in three events at the most recent world championships in 2019. But since that time, he has emerged as his team's leader. In April, he captured the all-around crown at the Japanese national championships, marking him as one to watch.
He was spectacular in the opening rotations, sticking a triple twist dismount on the floor for a 14.833 and swinging cleanly through a series of flares on pommel horse to post 15.166. On the still rings, he scored 13.533. But then, he came up with a shaky landing on his vault, a Kasamatsu double twist, for a 14.700.
He rebounded quickly in the fifth rotation on the parallel bars where his 15.300 moved him into medal contention. After clean routines from Xiao and Nagornyy, Hashimoto closed out the meet, knowing he needed 14.533 to win. He soared over the bar on two double flipping catch-and-release moves to open. Though he took a small step on the dismount, it was more than enough for gold.
He was already draped in the Japanese flag when his 14.933 flashed on the scoreboard, but he erupted, clinching both fists toward the ceiling, after receiving confirmation of gold.