SportBeep.com
  • Home
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
  • Baseball
  • Athletics
  • More
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Combat sports
    • Cricket
    • Figure Skating
    • Racing
    • Skiing
    • Swimming
    • Rugby
No Result
View All Result
SportBeep.com
  • Home
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
  • Baseball
  • Athletics
  • More
Home Athletics

Japan’s Hashimoto aiming to match gymnastics legend Uchimura

Kenton Alexander by Kenton Alexander
July 18, 2024
in Athletics
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
2
100
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Japan's Daiki Hashimoto is the reigning Olympic and two-time men's all-around world champion. ©AFP

Tokyo (AFP) – Japan’s Daiki Hashimoto is the good-natured farm boy from the Tokyo suburbs who is aiming to emulate gymnastics legend and countryman Kohei Uchimura by retaining his all-around Olympic title in Paris.

Hashimoto became the youngest men’s all-around champion in Olympic history when he took gold aged 19 at the pandemic-postponed Tokyo Games three years ago. He also triumphed in the horizontal bar event.

Related news

Kenyans Chebet, Kipyegon light up Eugene Diamond League with world records

July 5, 2025
325

Jefferson-Wooden tops Alfred in Eugene 100m

July 5, 2025
402

Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon breaks women’s 1,500m world record

July 5, 2025
322

Thompson expects ‘fireworks’ in next clash with Lyles

July 5, 2025
762

US sprinter Richardson seeks to kickstart season after February injury

July 4, 2025
404

Kipyegon, Duplantis, Thompson highlight Eugene Diamond League

July 4, 2025
671

Hashimoto’s success represented a changing of the guard after the long and imperious reign of Uchimura, who is widely regarded as one the sport’s all-time greats. “King Kohei”, who retired in 2022, won successive all-around Olympic titles in 2012 and 2016 and was part of the Japan team that took gold at the Rio Games.

Now Hashimoto has the chance to follow in his illustrious countryman’s footsteps despite struggling with a finger injury in the build-up to Paris. “I think it’s looking good, but my finger still isn’t 100 percent so I can’t let my guard down,” Hashimoto told reporters after practising with his Japan team-mates in late June.

Hashimoto damaged a ligament in the middle finger of his right hand in May while practising for his final competition before the Games. He has said he expects to be up to speed when the gymnastics start in Paris on July 27.

Hashimoto is the two-time all-around world champion and will start among the title favourites even if his preparations have been far from ideal. He has the backing of Uchimura, who is also tipping Japan for the team title. “I believe Hashimoto, who does the world’s best training, is the strongest in the world,” Uchimura told Japanese media. “But the Olympics have the power to transform athletes. It’s about whether Hashimoto can remain his overwhelmingly strong self and whether his rivals transform.”

– Tokyo breakthrough – Growing up in a family of part-time farmers in Japan’s Chiba Prefecture, Hashimoto took up gymnastics at the age of six after watching his two older brothers do the same. He competed at the world championships in Stuttgart in 2019 while still a high school student, and he had an extra year to hone his craft when the Tokyo Games were delayed by a year.

Uchimura decided not to compete in the all-around event on home soil because of wear and tear on his aging body, and Hashimoto took centre stage as the final reached its climax. Placed third going into the last rotation, the horizontal bar, he put in a near-flawless routine, dismounting with a clap of his hands that sent a cloud of white chalk into the air. His performance lifted him into first, giving him the title ahead of China’s Xiao Ruoteng and Russia’s world champion Nikita Nagornyy.

Hashimoto stayed dry-eyed on the podium afterwards, explaining that he felt “the champion must not cry but only look forward”. He has since gone from strength to strength, finishing second at the world championships later in 2021 behind China’s Zhang Boheng but winning the title at the next two editions.

He still has some way to go before he can catch Uchimura, who won six all-around world titles. He can match his Olympic tally if he wins gold in Paris, but the 22-year-old has other things on his mind than just winning medals. “I want to work hard so that when people ask which sports have made a splash this year, the answer they give is gymnastics,” he told reporters.

© 2024 AFP

Tags: daiki hashimotogymnasticskohei uchimuraTokyo Olympics
Share40Tweet25Share
Kenton Alexander

Kenton Alexander

Kenton, a seasoned 60-year-old sport journalist with a lifelong passion for baseball. Hailing from the heartland of America, Kanton's love affair with the game began in his childhood, where he spent countless hours honing his skills on the diamond. As he grew older, David's fascination with sports only deepened, leading him to become an official for baseball matches, where he gained a unique perspective on the intricacies of the sport. Armed with a wealth of knowledge and experience, Kenton transitioned seamlessly into sports journalism, where he has become known for his insightful analysis and captivating storytelling. From the crack of the bat to the roar of the crowd, Kenton's journey from a baseball-loving kid to a respected journalist is a testament to his enduring passion for the game.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
guest
2 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Follow Us

Popular News

  • ‘Rarely been so angry’: Bayern’s Kompany seethes after Musiala injury

    25 shares
    Share 10 Tweet 6
  • Kipyegon, Duplantis, Thompson highlight Eugene Diamond League

    54 shares
    Share 22 Tweet 14
  • Ravenous return: Fast-chewing Chestnut wins July 4th hot dog contest

    18 shares
    Share 7 Tweet 5
  • ‘Difficult day’ for Al Hila’s Portugal pair – Inzaghi

    57 shares
    Share 23 Tweet 14
  • Ghim leads PGA Tour John Deere Classic, Homa one adrift

    37 shares
    Share 15 Tweet 9
SportBeep.com

Welcome to SportBeep, your ultimate destination for all things sports! If you're passionate about the NFL, NBA, MLS, NHL, MLB, or any other sport, you're in the right place. Here, you'll find the latest news, in-depth analyses, and commentary on the most important sporting events and personalities from around the world.

Pages

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

News

  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • Soccer
  • Hockey
  • Tennis
  • Golf

Network

  • Coolinarco.com
  • CasualSelf.com
  • Fit.CasualSelf.com
  • Sport.CasualSelf.com
  • MachinaSphere.com
  • EconomyLens.com
  • MagnifyPost.com
  • TodayAiNews.com
  • VideosArena.com

© 2024 SportBeep ~ Top Sports News from around the world!

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
  • Baseball
  • Athletics
  • More
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Combat sports
    • Cricket
    • Figure Skating
    • Racing
    • Skiing
    • Swimming
    • Rugby

© 2024 SportBeep.com - Best Sport News