Two-time World champion Kohei Uchimura tallied 94.9, the highest all-around score in men's gymnastics since the code moved to an open-ended scoring system, Saturday at the Japanese National Championships.
His score boosted by bonus offered for high difficulty, Uchimura shattered the previous high set by Olympic gold medalist Yang Wei (94.575) during the men's all-around final at the 2008 Olympic Games. Uchimura's nearest competitor, 2010 World team member Kenya Kobayashi, was more than four points behind (90.65). Makoto Okiguchi was third (89.55), followed by Kazuhito Tanaka (89.45).
Had Uchimura not received bonus for difficulty, his total score likely would have been about a point lower, meaning that Yang's score still stands for the highest of all time under the existing code of points. Uchimura's tally would still be considered the highest of the quadrennium so far, however.
Uchimura was the high scorer on floor (15.85), pommel horse (15.6), vault (16.6) and high bar (15.9). Kobayashi had the top score on parallel bars (15.8 to Uchimura's 15.75) and Koji Yamamuro, fifth all-around, led the way on rings, his best apparatus (15.5; Yamamuro also posted the second highest score on vault, with 16.4.) Uchimura was second on this event as well, posting 15.2.
Video footage from a news report shows the meet was simply a tour de force from Uchimura, who stuck a 2.5 to Rudi and a magnificent triple twist to end his routine on floor. He is also shown doing an easy-looking, picture perfect Kolman on high bar and a stuck double twisting double layout dismount (watch the segment here.)
The top three men all compete for the Konami Sports & Life Co., a sports and leisure business conglomerate that sponsors a corporate gymnastics team. Uchimura and Yamamuro joined the team after finishing their studies at Nippon Sport Science University this spring.
Reigning Japanese champion Koko Tsurumi was first in the women's division, a point ahead of 2010 Worlds teammate (and Longines Prize for Elegance) winner Rie Tanaka (55.45-54.45), Kazuhito Tanaka's younger sister. World team members Kyoko Oshima and Yuko Shintake tied for third (53.55). Tsurumi had the best scores on bars and beam (a pair of 14.4s), while Tanaka's 1.5 twisting Yurchenko topped the vault standings (14.4) and Oshima's 13.7 was the high score on floor.
Several familiar names popped up on this year's roster, including 2004 Olympic team gold medalist Hisashi Mizutori (14th) and Naoya Tsukahara, son of the legendary Mitsuo Tsukahara (33rd). The younger Tsukahara has spent a good deal of time in Australia during the past few years and has indicated a desire to compete for Australia.
The men's competition was without World team member Koji Uematsu, who tore his ACL in training a few days ago. Uematsu, a strong all-around gymnast, was fourth all-around at the American Cup and eighth overall at the 2010 Worlds.
Related: Full results from day one of the men's competition are here, while women's results can be found here, courtesy of the Japan Gymnastic Association.
Follow The Gymnastics Examiner on Facebook or Twitter, or click the "Subscribe" button above to receive the latest gymnastics news and results via e-mail.
Comments