Zhang Boheng reclaimed the men's all-around title at China's National Gymnastics Championships in Nanning this week, scoring 82.965 points despite competing with a neck injury sustained just days before the event. The victory marks his third national title since 2022, though the road to gold proved unexpectedly rocky for both Zhang and his rivals.
Overcoming Adversity
Zhang's triumph came with visible strain—he struggled to bend his neck during routines due to a training injury. Meanwhile, 2023 champion Shi Cong faced greater setbacks, competing with a broken rib and pneumothorax diagnosis. 'I thought I wouldn't make it here at all,' Shi admitted after securing silver with 79.765 points despite a fall in the horizontal bar final.
New Rules, New Rivalries
The championships coincided with Japan's NHK Cup, where nearly 20 male gymnasts surpassed 80 points under the updated 2025-2028 Code of Points. Zhang emphasized the need for Chinese athletes to deepen their understanding of the new rules: 'We must keep improving to stay competitive.'
Lan Xingyu rounded out the podium with bronze (79.632 points), as Zhang's final score stood unchallenged—the only 80+ performance of the tournament.
