China is the defending Olympic Team Champion in both Men’s and Women’s Artistic.
Should they adopt a goal of winning as many individual apparatus medals as possible in London? Rather than trying to win Team?
Sun Xiaochen in the China Daily:
China’s national gymnastics teams have already accepted that they won’t repeat the dominant Olympics they enjoyed in Beijing …
The international powerhouse bagged nine gold medals – including the prestigious men’s and women’s team all-around competitions – out of the 14 categories at home four years ago, which comprised a big portion of the nation’s 51-gold haul in Beijing.
However, it is unrealistic to expect an equally exceptional result in London. …
“It will be extremely hard for us to defend the team event title this time,” said Chen Yibing, men’s captain and Beijing Olympics rings gold medalist.
“We lack the all-around talent now, so everybody has to dig deeper and try to make up for each other’s weak event.”
Inspired by Chen, pommel horse Olympic champion Xiao Qin has started to work out on the rings, an event he dropped for 10 years. …
The odds of the women defending are far, far worse. With the resurgence of Romania, Team China could easily finish 4th.
China could send He Kexin, for example, abandoning the chance for a team medal.
1. He Kexin 7.100 8.550 15.650
2. Huang Huidan 6.600 7.575 14.175
3. Tan Jiaxin 6.100 7.950 14.050
Click PLAY or watch He Kexin win Bars at Chinese Nationals on YouTube.
The first day of the event finals at the Chinese Nationals saw the girls kicking it old school, with senior citizens Cheng Fei and He Kexin emerging as apparatus champions on their pet events. …
Couch Gymnast – Chinese Nationals: Event Finals
related – IG – Chinese Women Face Uphill Battle for Olympics
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