Uchimura claims 3rd title in a row
Source: Agencies |
October 15, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
KOHEI Uchimura of Japan gave the adoring home fans what they wanted last night, becoming the first man to win three all-round titles at the world championships.
Uchimura has been untouchable since winning the silver medal at the Beijing Olympics and, if his performance at the worlds is any preview, he'll move up to gold next summer in London.
Uchimura had the lead after two events in Tokyo, leaving everyone else fighting for silver and bronze. Uchimura finished with 93.631 points, more than three points ahead of Germany's Philipp Boy. Koji Yamamuro, Uchimura's training partner, won the bronze.
Uchimura had his third straight world title wrapped up at the halfway point, making the high bar, his final routine, the start of his victory celebration. The crowd roared with each release move, and fans were on their feet even before he hit the landing mat. As Uchimura looked skyward and threw his arms in the air, the fans let out such a big roar it nearly lifted the roof of the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
It's been seven months since the earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeast Japan, and Uchimura said before the meet he hoped he and his teammates could give his country a lift. They came up short in the team competition, finishing with a silver behind China, with Uchimura making some uncharacteristic errors.
But on this night, he was practically perfect.
Uchimura is, without question, the finest gymnast of his generation. Maybe of any generation.
Not only has he not been beaten since the Beijing Olympics, no one's even come close.
Uchimura has been untouchable since winning the silver medal at the Beijing Olympics and, if his performance at the worlds is any preview, he'll move up to gold next summer in London.
Uchimura had the lead after two events in Tokyo, leaving everyone else fighting for silver and bronze. Uchimura finished with 93.631 points, more than three points ahead of Germany's Philipp Boy. Koji Yamamuro, Uchimura's training partner, won the bronze.
Uchimura had his third straight world title wrapped up at the halfway point, making the high bar, his final routine, the start of his victory celebration. The crowd roared with each release move, and fans were on their feet even before he hit the landing mat. As Uchimura looked skyward and threw his arms in the air, the fans let out such a big roar it nearly lifted the roof of the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
It's been seven months since the earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeast Japan, and Uchimura said before the meet he hoped he and his teammates could give his country a lift. They came up short in the team competition, finishing with a silver behind China, with Uchimura making some uncharacteristic errors.
But on this night, he was practically perfect.
Uchimura is, without question, the finest gymnast of his generation. Maybe of any generation.
Not only has he not been beaten since the Beijing Olympics, no one's even come close.
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