LIVE blog.
Second flight at the World Gymnastics Championships. Japan is starting on Pommels.
Will reigning World Champion Uchimura try to defend his all-around title, despite injury?
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Kenya Kobayashi of Japan performs on the pommel horse while his teammate Kohei Uchimura receives medical treatmen
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Shoulder all taped up, Kohei DID do Pommel horse. HIT. 6.00/15.133 … Next is Rings, however. The most problematic apparatus with his shoulder injury. … He has no Ring grips on. He tested his shoulder in cross support. Perhaps it’s a last minute decision.
Japan counted one fall on Pommels, I think.
International Gymnast – Preview: Uchimura Put to Test in Session 2
Uchimura. Here we go … HIT and STICK. 6.4/15.4 … Animal. … Has he done any rings in training this week?
Respect for Uchimura will be even greater (if that’s possible) after this gutsy performance.
… Japan is GOOD. But it doesn’t look to me, so far, that they can challenge mighty China. Especially on Vault. Perhaps in the 3-up, 3-count Team final, if China makes mistakes.
UCHIMURA IS A GOD. Sticks Vault 6.6/16.33… (9.733 E score!).
HIT P Bars. Three double back to underarm skills. (Even he can’t make those look flawless.) Small hop on double pike dismount. 15.366 Ho hum. Another 15+ …
Japan’s best apparatus so far is P Bars. NICE stuff.
Japan’s weakest apparatus: H Bar. Minimal difficulty and they nearly had falls on pirouettes from 2 guys, so far. …
Uchimura on pipe. WOW. A little wild at times, yet still one of the best routines in the world today. Clean, high Kovacs was the highlight for me. Does anyone do that better?
Uematsu from Japan had a very high difficulty routine, too. Not so pretty as Uchi.
Uchimura is last up on Floor, the first time he’s anchored the team all day. … Their first 2 competitors are not strong tumblers. Third up Yamamuro bailed out on 2 different roll out skills. And fell on dismount. Disaster. … Long judge’s meeting. … Suddenly it looks like the USA or another team could beat JPN.
Their 4th competitor is good, Uematsu. But he took a fall, mid-routine.
Uchimura puts hands down Arabian piked, half out. The rest of the routine good, not great. Overscored at 14.966. Still, I’d be shocked if he’s not the leader in the AA by the end of day 2. With a fall, he’s still the best gymnast in the world.
JAPAN must go back to the drawing board for Team Finals on Floor. This apparatus could kill them.
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Romania’s vault line-up is awesome. They have 3 guy doing two vaults, trying to make Finals. Berbecar nearly flew past the end of the really long landing mats!
Dragalescu had a poor landing on his signature vault. I doubt he can make finals now. … Ah ha. He stuck vault #2. There’s still a chance.
Dragalescu fell on H Bar. And fell on Floor dismount. Clearly he’s not in shape for this meet, yet wanted to try to help his team. That’s it. He’s only competing the 3 apparatus.
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