Gymnastics-Five to watch at the Tokyo Olympics
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[June 23, 2021]
(Reuters) - Five gymnasts to
watch out for at the Tokyo Olympics:
SIMONE BILES (UNITED STATES)
Biles, the reigning world and all-around Olympic champion, has
continuously stretched the limits of her sport with her
explosiveness, power and creativity.
The 24-year-old American, who has won 30 Olympic and world
championship medals, claimed four golds at the 2016 Rio Games in one
of the most remarkable performances in Olympic history.
Although initially planning to retire after Tokyo, Biles said she
might consider competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics as an event
specialist.
NIKITA NAGORNYY (RUSSIA)
The 24-year-old Russian enters his second Olympics in peak form
after winning the all-around title at the recent European
championships and fulfilling his childhood dream of having an
element named after him. [L8N2N13H8]
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2021/Jun/23/images/ads/current/LPL_small%201.gif)
As reigning world champion, Nagornyy is the favourite to win the
all-around title in Tokyo. Nagornyy was a silver medallist in the team
event at the 2016 Rio Games, but the Russian Olympic Committee's chances
of winning gold in the team event for the first time since 1996 will
depend on the return of Artur Dalaloyan, who had surgery for a torn
Achilles in April.
Nagornyy will represent the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) because
Russia was stripped of its flag and anthem at the Games for doping
offences.
KOHEI UCHIMURA (JAPAN)
Uchimura qualified for his fourth and final Games in a tiebreaker and is
set to end his illustrious Olympic career in his native Japan.
Sometimes called "King Kohei", Uchimura became the first male gymnast in
44 years to win back-to-back Olympic all-around titles at the 2016
Games, leading Japan to gold in the team event.
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![](../images/062321PIX/sports31.jpg)
Simone Biles of the U.S. in action -
Artistic Gymnastics - 2019 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships -
Women's Floor Final - Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart,
Germany - October 13, 2019 REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photo/File
Photo
![](../images/ads/current/graue_lda_2021.gif)
The 32-year-old, a three-times Olympic
gold medallist, will not compete in the all-around in Tokyo,
focusing on the horizontal bar after being plagued by injuries in
recent years.
OKSANA CHUSOVITINA (UZBEKISTAN)
Chusovitina turns 46 later this month before heading to her eighth
Olympics.
Her longevity is stunning in a sport whose brightest stars are young
and often retire early because of the gruelling physical demands.
Chusovitina, who is set to break her own record of the most Games
for a gymnast, has represented the Soviet Union, the Unified Team
and the Commonwealth of Independent States after the Soviet
collapse, as well as Germany and Uzbekistan.
LIU TINGTING (CHINA)
The 20-year-old Chinese gymnast, who is strong on the balance beam
and uneven bars, is set to take part in her first Olympics.
Liu won silver in the balance beam at the last world championships
in 2019 before clinching her second consecutive all-around Chinese
title last year.
Liu will to lead China in the team event against rivals such as the
United States and the Russian Olympic Committee. China won bronze in
the team event at the 2016 Games. Liu did not compete at the time
because of a fractured hand.
(Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber; Editing by Ed Osmond)
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