Xiao Ruoteng of Chinese artistic gymnastics team acts on pommel horse during a training session ahead of Tokyo 2020 in Tokyo, Japan, July 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)
China's gymnastics teams vow to regain the throne while challenges are standing in their way.
TOKYO, July 23 (Xinhua) -- China's gymnastics teams are looking for a comeback and a breakthrough in the Tokyo Olympic Games after a five-year wait and a setback at the Rio Olympics.
In the highly anticipated men's team event, China will face hosts and defending champions Japan, and Russia again. The Chinese men's gymnastics team consists of the main team members from the 2018 and 2019 World Gymnastics Championships. Xiao Ruoteng, Zou Jingyuan, Sun Wei and Lin Chaopan, as experienced gymnasts in the competition, have the goal of climbing to the Olympic championship throne.
Gold medalist Epke Zonderland (C) of the Netherlands, silver medalist Uchimura Kohei (L) of Japan and bronze medalist Samuel Mikulak of the United States pose during the awarding ceremony of men's horizontal bar final at the 2018 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 3, 2018. (Xinhua/Nikku)
Japan, with a home-field advantage, dominated the men's gymnastics field, despite star player Kohei Uchimura's withdrawal from the all-around and team events. Russia is also a strong contender for gold in team event after defeating China in the men's team final at the 2019 World Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart.
According to the competition schedule, the Chinese men's gymnastics team will start with vault in the first round of the qualifying day on Saturday, along with Russia and Ukraine. The early match is a big test of the physical state of the athletes, requiring them to get into their best form quickly. The Japanese team, who will start later in the day, has an advantage.
Gold medalist Nikita Nagornyy of Russia (C), silver medalist Artur Dalaloyan of Russia (L) and bronze medalist Oleg Verniaiev of Ukraine pose for photos after the Men's All-Around Final of the 2019 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, Oct. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Lu Yang) (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)
In men's individual events: Xiao, Zou, Liu and others will strive for a position on the highest podium in the all-around, parallel bars, rings and other events. In early July, the Chinese male gymnasts did not make any major mistakes in the competition at the last trial before the Tokyo Olympic Games, and high quality routines of performance were frequently shown in the rings, parallel bars and other events. All-around star gymnast Xiao has also gradually overcome injuries, and will participate in all events except the rings.
"With such a team going to the Tokyo Olympics, I think we can face, fight and show our strength no matter how big the difficulties and challenges are," said Miao Zhongyi, head of the Chinese gymnastics team, who was satisfied with the athletes' condition before they set off.
Arriving in Tokyo, the gymnastics teams immediately started intense adaptation training. Everyone trained with devotion, trying to adapt to the atmosphere of the competition and the environment, and striving to have a good state for the competition, Miao said.
Fan Yilin competes during the women's uneven bars final at the 2020 Chinese National Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Zhaoqing, south China's Guangdong Province, Sept. 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)
The Chinese women's gymnastic team is brand new: with Lu Yufei, Zhang Jin, Tang Xijing and Ou Youshan making their Olympic debuts, who will challenge the U.S. team led by Simone Biles. Biles had planned to retire after the Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but that hasn't affected Biles' condition and the 24-year-old is still a strong contender for multiple medals.
Although the Chinese women's gymnastic team is a young group, they still have strong strength in the balance beam and other events. Two-time world gymnastics uneven bars champion Fan Yilin is in her best condition as she makes her second Olympics. In addition, the Chinese women's team also sent Guan Chenchen and Ou Yushan, two athletes who specialized in high difficulty in balance beam.
However, the pandemic has disrupted the Chinese team's familiar training rhythm for the Games. Gymnasts often spend months or even a year working on new routines. In the past, gymnasts could adjust their pace through competitions, but since the outbreak of the COVID-19, the Chinese gymnastics teams have been isolated for a long time.
Therefore, the Chinese teams, compared with other teams, is facing unprecedented major problems and challenges in rhythm control and form adjustment.
Meanwhile, the gymnastic events at Tokyo Olympics have no cap at difficulty points, which undoubtedly enhances the degree of excitement, but also increases the risk of injury for athletes.
The competition of artistic gymnastics will be held from July 24 to August 3 at Ariake Gymnastics Center in Tokyo.■
