Japan's Kohei Uchimura just beats Oleg Verniaiev to repeat as all-around champion
He did it again: In a nail-biting finish that may have come down to a stuck landing, Kohei Uchimura of Japan repeats as gymnastics all-around champion — the first man to win back to back all-around Olympic gold in 44 years.
It was a close race to the end, with Ukraine's Oleg Verniaiev leading going into the event's final rotation, the high bar.
But seven-time Olympic medalist and six-time world champion Uchimura ultimately prevailed with a stuck landing and a final score of 92.365 to just beat out Verniaiev's 92.266.
Great Britain's Max Whitlock finished third with a score of 90.641 to win the bronze medal.
@kohei198913 congratulations.... respect
— Nadia Comaneci (@nadiacomaneci10) August 10, 2016
Four-time national champion Sam Mikulak of the USA was hoping to make an international splash but saw his hopes of reaching the podium end when he shorted his vault landing during his third rotation. He finished seventh.
The 27-year-old Uchimura arrived in Rio as the overwhelming favorite to back up the all-around gold he won in London four years ago. Yet the six-time world champion said repeatedly his ultimate goal was a team gold for Japan. He got that triumphant moment on Monday night, when he guided the Japanese to the top of the podium for the first time since 2004 with a nearly flawless finishing kick on floor exercise.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
