More gymnastics horror for China as they collapse again

The reaction to the dramatic conclusion of the men's team allaround gymnastics final suggested a national crisis had hit China. Their spectacular collapse from what looked to be a certain gold to silver, allowing Japan to claim victory at the last moment, was met with sympathy and anger.

- JAMIE BRAIDWOOD

But the sound of fury is often louder. When Li Xiaoshuang, one of China’s greatest-ever gymnasts and a former two-time Olympic champion, launched into a stinging tirade against the current team in Paris, questioning a lack of leadership and suggesting its members were too old to win Olympic titles, it caused quite the stir.

Monday’s team final weighed heavily over the individual competition. The fight for gold was expected to be between Japan’s Daiko Hashimoto, the defending champion, and China’s Zhang Boheng, the top qualifier, continuing the duel between the two rival countries at the Paris Bercy Arena.

It ended in more heartbreak for Zhang, who for the second time in three days went into the high bar and the final routine of the night knowing the score that was required to win gold but falling narrowly short. It meant Oka Shinnosuke succeeded compatriot Hashimoto in winning individual gold for Japan, once again denying the heavyweights from China.

The 20-year-old Shinnosuke had finished second to top scorer Zhang in qualifying but was not expected to be involved in the battle for all-around gold. He beamed at the top of the podium while Zhang looked as if he wanted to be anywhere else as silver again hung around his neck.