Defending high bar gold medalist sticks the landing -- with his face

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:13 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

Kerouac Smith

Epke Zonderland, the 2012 gold medal-winner in the high bar, was favored to defend his title in Rio on Tuesday.

Then this happened.

After missing the bar and smacking into the mat, he lay there face down for several moments in front of the shocked crowd.

But while his medal hopes were shot, "The Flying Dutchman" wasn't letting his Olympics end on this note.

Zonderland shook it off, retool the bar and finished his routine to an ovation from the crowd.

The best part? Somehow he still finished seventh out of the eight qualifiers for the final.

share