At the Paris Olympics, in the men’s gymnastics team final, Japan secured a gold medal for the first time in two tournaments since the Rio de Janeiro Games, thanks to the performance of Masataka Sugino from Tsu City.
The men’s gymnastics team final featured the top eight teams from the preliminaries, competing in six events. Each team’s total score was determined by the performance of three members, and Sugino participated in the pommel horse, parallel bars, and vault.
Japan had a strong start in the first event, the floor exercise, but in the second event, the pommel horse, a fall from one of the athletes placed them 0.5 points behind their rivals, China.
In the third event, the rings, Japan fell further behind by more than three points to China, which specializes in this event, and in the fourth event, the vault, Japan was unable to increase their score, leaving them in fourth place at that point.
In the fifth event, the parallel bars, the three performers scored in the high 14s, allowing Japan to climb to second place.
Then, entering the final event, the horizontal bar, with a 3.267-point deficit from China, a Chinese athlete made two falls, allowing Japan to make a comeback.
Japan’s ace, Daiki Hashimoto, secured a high score in the last event, leading them to a total score of 259.594 and earning the gold medal.
This marks Japan’s first gold medal in this event since the Rio de Janeiro Games.
Sugino achieved high scores of 14 points or more in all three events he participated in, contributing to the gold medal victory.
Sugino, who won the gold medal, said, “I believe this gold medal was achieved as a team. It’s amazing,” speaking happily.
Reflecting on his mindset before performing first in the last event, he said, “I was nervous, but I thought with Okada and Hashimoto behind me, they would definitely do well, so I was able to perform freely.”
He added, “The Olympics are a dream stage that I’ve longed for, and winning a gold medal has been a dream since I was a child. I was glad to have worked hard here, fueled by the regret of not making the team at the Tokyo Olympics.”
【Supporting Sugino who won the gold medal in his hometown】
In Tsu City, the hometown of Masataka Sugino, who won the gold medal in the men’s gymnastics team final at the Paris Olympics, many people gathered to cheer him on.
A public viewing was held at a hall near Sugino’s former middle school in Tsu City in the early morning of the 30th.
About 300 people, including Sugino’s classmates from elementary and middle school and teammates from the gymnastics club he attended at that time, gathered to show their support.
The attendees cheered by clapping their stick balloons, erupting in cheers every time Sugino executed a move successfully.
Finally, when Daiki Hashimoto completed his routine on the horizontal bar without any mistakes, ensuring Japan’s gold medal, the venue erupted in an even louder cheer as the attendees shared in the joy.
A classmate from Sugino’s elementary and middle school said, “I was moved. When he comes back, I want to tell him thank you for all his hard work.”
Additionally, a junior from the gymnastics club where Sugino trained until middle school said, “I was moved by his determination to perform until the very end. He looked cool, and I’m proud of him.”
Shinji Miyamoto, the coach from Sugino’s gymnastics club, remarked, “I couldn’t have imagined him achieving this when I was coaching him, but I think that reflects how hard Sugino has worked. He is a source of pride for the club and a role model.”