Gymnastics-Five to watch at the Tokyo Olympics

[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]

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.

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

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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