NHK Trophy 2024: Miyata Shoko romps to third successive women's title - and a gymnastics quota at Paris 2024

Miyata Shoko underlined her credentials as Japan’s top female all-around gymnastics by winning her third consecutive NHK Trophy on Saturday (18 May) - and securing a quota at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.*

Groin injury and all, Miyata cruised for the most part, on her way to a 217.162 total through four days of competition here and at last month’s All-Japan All-Around Championships at the Takasaki Arena in Gunma Prefecture.

“I wanted to finish the day with a better performance but will have to save that for Paris,” said Miyata, who headlines a Japanese women's team without a single hold-over from Tokyo 2020 in 2021.

“I’ve had good years and bad years in my life but I hope to make this year a good one.”

• NHK Trophy 2024: Miyata Shoko overcomes pain to lead women's competition after Day 1
• All-Japan All-Around Championships 2024: Miyata Shoko overcomes nerves to win first women's title
• How to qualify for artistic gymnastics at Paris 2024

*As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, an athlete's participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.

The kids are alright for Japan

Joining Miyata at the Games this summer will be second-place Kishi Rina (215.526), followed by Okamura Mana (213.994), and Nakamura Haruka (212.130), last year’s junior world all-around champion who celebrated her 16th birthday on this day.

The fifth and final spot on the women’s team went to Ushioku Kohane, who finished ninth overall (204.993) but received the nod for her prowess on the vault, over fifth-place Sugihara Aiko (210.359). Ushioku is coached by Olympic medallist and former world champion Murakami Mai.

All five who made the cut are set to make their Olympic debuts and are in their teens. Nakamura is the youngest and Miyata and Ushioku are the oldest at 19.

It is only the third time ever - and the first in 40 years - that the Japanese women’s team is made up entirely of first-time Olympians.

Sugihara, who was on the Tokyo 2020 team, and Hatakeda Chiaki (sixth, 209.295) are the alternates.

Miyata appeared to be in less pain than on Thursday, when her left thigh was heavily bandaged and was visibly in pain as she went through her rotation.

Sugihara may have taken herself out of contention when she fell off the uneven bar, scoring 23rd out of 23 in the event (11.066), while Soma Ui started the day a narrow sixth but unraveled on the floor (11.466) to end up seventh.

The Japan Gymnastics Association is pinning its hopes on Miyata to set the tone for the entire team on the podium.

“I think everyone wants to medal in the team event, that’s our number one goal,” she said. “Of course I want an individual medal but I think that will naturally come if our focus remains on having a good team performance.

“We need to take it one step at a time for the Olympics.”