PARIS: China eclipsed Japan in men’s artistic gymnastics qualifying at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, with all-around leader Zhang Boheng celebrating his team’s spirit.
A frenetic first-day event at Bercy Arena saw a boisterous crowd treated to a taste of the thrills and spills ahead, with American superstar Simone Biles eagerly welcoming her eagerly-anticipated entrance on Sunday.
The Russian Olympic Committee won the men’s team title at the postponed Tokyo 2020 Games, but Russian gymnasts are not defending their title, leaving China favorites to win gold for the first time since London 2012 on Monday.
Led by Olympic debutant Zhang, China led the team qualifying standings by 2.434 points from Japan.
Britain, with vaulting world champion Jake Jarman and two-time Olympic pommel horse gold medalist Max Whitlock, was third ahead of Ukraine and the United States.
Zhang topped Japan’s Shinnosuke Oka and defending champion Daiki Hashimoto in the individual all-around.
“I’m happy with it, it’s my highest score in the main competition this year,” Zhang said.
“Our team put in an excellent performance. Everyone did very well and showed great team spirit.”
Hashimoto, who is aiming to emulate compatriot Kohei Uchimura by securing back-to-back titles in the gymnastics blue ribbon event, will need to up his game on Monday.
The youngest ever Olympic men’s all-around champion – he was 19 at the Covid-delayed Tokyo 2020 Games – trailed Zhang by more than 3.5 points at the end of the all-around qualification.
Hashimoto, who was recovering from an injury in Paris, also won gold on parallel bars in Tokyo, but this time he failed to reach the final after losing his balance on landing.
His compatriot Kazuma Kaya predicted a fierce team battle with China on Monday.
“In Tokyo, we won the silver medal by a small margin (in the team competition). So it was frustrating, but today we trained every day to succeed. Next time, in two days, I want the gold medal,” Kaya said. .
China’s Zou Jingyuan had the highest score of the day in the parallel bars qualification with 16,200 points.
The 26-year-old defender of the parallel bars championship was also the highlight of the rings qualification.
With China and Japan predicted to battle it out for team gold, Britain look good for a medal.
Whitlock, 31, finished third in the pommel horse qualifier.
The British gymnast is aiming for a third straight title and a record fourth medal on the same apparatus at the 2024 Games.
Two-time world champion Rhys McClenaghan joined American Stephen Nedoroscic at the top of the rankings and left Ireland dreaming of his first ever gymnastics medal of any colour.
Among the crowd was Jill Biden, representing US President Joe Biden, who chatted with the US team.
Paul Juda, the first Olympian, found jumping, diving and vaulting far less nerve-wracking than meeting the First Lady.
“I still don’t even understand it,” Juda said after he and his teammates were introduced to Biden. “I’m still in shock.
“And they were like, ‘Oh, you’re celebrities.’ I’m like, ‘No, I’m just a gymnast from Deerfield, Illinois’ — it’s crazy.”
The biggest roar of the home crowd was saved by Samir Ait Said. The French gymnast suffered a horrific broken leg in Rio, came back to finish fourth in the rings in Tokyo and is set for the rings final in his third Olympics.
