After narrowly missing the men’s gymnastics team gold at the Tokyo Olympics, Japan’s gymnastics team is resolute in its pursuit of the top podium spot at the upcoming Paris 2024 Games. Determined to overcome past disappointments, they are focusing on surpassing their rivals and achieving their goal of reclaiming the gold medal.
At the Tokyo Olympics, Japan finished second, losing to the Russian Olympic Committee by a mere 0.103 points—a margin that has since served as a powerful motivator for the team. All-around titleholder Daiki Hashimoto reflected on the narrow loss, saying, “We had the bitter experience of losing by the narrowest of margins. I want us to win that gold and enjoy the view from the podium.”
Head coach Hisashi Mizutori, a former team gold medalist, echoed this sentiment. “After losing by 0.103 in Tokyo, we’ve been working hard towards Paris fueled by a sense of determination,” he stated. “It’s a big chance for us to grab that medal, so we’ll do what we need to do.”
A victory in Paris would extend Japan’s record to eight team golds. The team believes they have the strongest lineup this time, thanks to a well-balanced squad and a superior collective difficulty score, or “D-score,” over their competitors. “That was quite a surprise, since some teams had long had a higher D-score than Japan,” said Kazuma Kaya, who won bronze in the pommel horse in Tokyo. “In that sense, we have the strongest five members this time.”
Japan secured the team title at the World Championships last October with a total score of 255.594 points, nearly two points ahead of their closest competitor, although some rival teams were without key athletes. With the addition of top gymnasts to opposing teams, head coach Mizutori warns that Japan will need to minimize errors to secure victory. “We have experienced members and new members this time, so the balance is really good,” he noted. “I think we can expect a strong result.”
The team’s preparations have not been without challenges. Hashimoto is nursing a finger injury that he says has him at 60 percent, but he remains optimistic. “I don’t think the pain will disappear completely, but I want to get as close to 100 percent as possible before Paris,” he said, aiming to defend his all-around and horizontal bar titles.
The squad for Paris includes Hashimoto, Kaya, Wataru Tanigawa, Takaaki Sugino, and 20-year-old Shinnosuke Oka. They are focused on polishing their routines and ensuring they are in top form for the Games.
Artistic gymnastics at Paris 2024 will run from July 27 to August 5, with the men’s team final scheduled for July 29.
Reference(s):
Olympics: Japan eye men's team gymnastics gold at Paris 2024
cgtn.com
