Hashimoto Daiki, Tanigawa Wataru, Oka Shinnosuke, Kaya Kazuma, and Sugino Takaaki
The beginning lists for the lads’s {qualifications} on the 2024 Olympic Video games have been launched, and we’re going to speak via every staff and notable people primarily based on what we’re anticipating to see in every subdivision, together with any surprises and who can have the most effective alternatives for finals.
TEAM NOTES
The reigning world champions and 2020 Olympic silver medalists the place the now-absent Russia received gold, Japan is once more a favourite for gold this yr, led by the reigning Olympic and two-time world all-around champion Hashimoto Daiki. He’s joined by fellow all-arounder Oka Shinnosuke, who ought to have been on the worlds staff final yr however all is correct on the planet now, whereas we’ll additionally see Sugino Takaaki on ground, pommel horse, and excessive bar, Tanigawa Wataru on ground, rings, vault, and parallel bars, and Kaya Kazuma on each occasion however vault, serving as a gentle lead-off athlete on all 5 of his apparatuses.
With the depth to concurrently prioritize a strong staff stability in addition to what may very well be a stellar run for particular person finals, I feel the Japanese staff not solely has all of it, however in contrast to different groups with main roster adjustments in comparison with worlds final yr, Japan’s adjustments are literally largely for the higher, with added depth to most occasions that ought to assist them keep afloat forward of China.
This quad has been a bizarre one for China, which certified fourth in 2022 earlier than occurring to win gold within the staff last, after which got here inside a few tenths from lacking the ultimate utterly final yr, solely to extend their rating by practically six factors to wind up with silver. This type of hit-or-miss habits is my greatest concern for them once more this yr, however as with Japan, they’ve made some roster enhancements that may solely assist as a substitute of harm.
The largest of those is Zhang Boheng’s return. The 2021 world all-around champion and 2022 silver medalist was wildly not chosen for the Video games in Tokyo, after which he was unable to compete at worlds final yr after prioritizing the Asian Video games in Hangzhou, the place he received all-around, excessive bar, and staff gold. An unlucky nationwide championships this yr, the place he struggled with harm that took him out of the all-around last after three occasions, means he hasn’t been as a lot on the radar as he ought to, however he regarded principally good in podium coaching and whereas he stated he’s nervous about his Olympics debut, I feel he ought to put up fairly the struggle for the rostrum if he can do what he’s able to.
Veteran Xiao Ruoteng joins him within the all-around tomorrow, the place we’ll see Liu Yang on each equipment however pommel horse, Zou Jingyuan on pommel horse, rings, and parallel bars, and Su Weide, a brand new addition to the staff taking the place of the reliable however injured Solar Wei, on ground, pommel horse, vault, and excessive bar. Just like the Japanese staff, there’s a sturdy stability between staff and particular person objectives, with two distinctive all-arounders and three specialists who’re anticipated so as to add huge scores to most of their respective occasions. I nonetheless assume Japan might have the sting, however I’m optimistic about China’s capacity to present them an unimaginable run for his or her cash.
Although Ukraine missed the staff last at worlds final yr, they returned to the foremost worldwide stage with unimaginable aptitude at Euros this yr with the identical precise staff, who added a full 10 factors to their worlds {qualifications} rating (the place they narrowly missed qualifying to the Olympic Video games by ending in twelfth place, simply over a tenth forward of Brazil).
The identical 5 athletes from each groups will compete in Paris, together with all-arounders Illia Kovtun and Oleg Verniaiev, Nazar Chepurnyi on each occasion however rings, Radomyr Stelmakh on each occasion however vault, and Igor Radivilov stepping in on each of these occasions. I feel their Euros title speaks for itself when it comes to this staff’s potential to land on the rostrum right here, and if all goes in accordance with plan, this staff might have what it takes to face out forward of each the U.S. and British groups.
Lastly, the Netherlands wasn’t a staff I had on my “absolutes” for qualifying to Paris final yr, and I don’t assume they’ll be a contender for the ultimate this yr. With Frank Rijken, Jermain Grünberg, and Casimir Schmidt within the all-around, Loran de Munck on pommel horse and parallel bars, and Martin de Veer rounding them out on ground, rings, vault, and excessive bar, it’s a fairly strong group, however they don’t actually have the problem as a complete nor the person standouts to present them the push wanted to suit into the staff last image.
ALL-AROUND NOTES
The largest story of males’s gymnastics within the context of this Video games is after all going to be the showdown between Hashimoto and Zhang, which has already been epic this quad after we’ve been blessed to see them compete side-by-side, although after all this would be the final enviornment for his or her pleasant rivalry to blossom.
In an ideal world, the 2 will win gold and silver in a nail-biting battle that comes all the way down to lower than a tenth, although I’ll say I’ve my issues about Zhang not being fairly as much as par when in comparison with Hashimoto proper now. A finger harm stored Hashimoto out of the NHK Trophy, so it additionally hasn’t been a great season for him, however Zhang’s expertise at nationals was regarding and I hope he’s had the time to bodily and mentally get previous that and present us the most effective he’s in a position to do.
Xiao and Oka are additionally completely medal contenders, with each really outscoring Zhang’s {qualifications} rating at nationals, although I do acknowledge that Zhang has higher potential to attain larger. They are going to add to the joy of the ultimate together with Kovtun, whereas Verniaiev is one other from this group who’s prone to make the ultimate, although I wouldn’t take into account him a medal risk regardless of his shocking silver at Euros this yr.
Talking of Euros, the all-around champion Marios Georgiou of Cyprus is on this subdivision and he also needs to be effectively in competition to make the ultimate, with Carlos Yulo of the Philippines and Milad Karimi of Kazakhstan one other so as to add to the record. The opposite particular person all-arounders on this subdivision are Jesse Moore of Australia and Omar Mohamed of Egypt, neither of whom might be a prime risk, but when they’ve their very best days, each might perhaps be bubble athletes.
FLOOR NOTES
Getting Su on China’s staff last-minute might be most fun when it comes to his ground last potential, the place he may very well be a official medal risk. Each Zhang and Xiao can also’t be counted out right here, whereas Japan will see Hashimoto in the most effective place to last, although Oka also needs to be succesful, as are Yulo, Kovtun, and Karimi among the many all-arounders. Yulo hasn’t been fairly at his strongest on this occasion over the previous yr or so, however I feel he’s nonetheless in a position to pull out some feats of greatness right here, and his tumbling regarded nice in podium coaching.
There aren’t any ground specialists on this subdivision, although tripartite nominee Lais Najjar of Syria might be competing on this equipment as one of many 4 he’s doing in Paris, with ground usually one in all his standouts.
POMMEL HORSE NOTES
Once more, we now have to have a look at Hashimoto right here as he’s able to 15+ scores, however I do assume he’ll miss out if the entire “horse guys” are at their finest, whereas Sugino is superb on this equipment and also needs to be within the combine. I actually don’t see any of the Chinese language males making it, although Zhang and Zou ought to rating effectively sufficient to be on the bubble.
Verniaiev and Kovtun are each succesful for Ukraine, and that is the place the Netherlands has its greatest hope for a person last, as de Munck is excellent right here, and he’s coming off of the silver medal at Euros right here. Georgiou additionally medaled at Euros, successful the bronze with among the finest routines I’ve seen him do, so he may very well be on the periphery as effectively.
The largest medal contender on this subdivision is Nariman Kurbanov of Kazakstan, who has earned rating of 15.5 or higher in 5 worldwide competitions this yr alone, an achievement made much more huge when you think about that solely three athletes have completed this in 2024, with Ahmad Abu Al Soud of Jordan doing it as soon as in Doha, whereas Lee Chih-Kai of Taiwan, who didn’t qualify for the Video games, made it occur in Baku {qualifications}. A gold medal is certainly inside attain for him with a success routine.
RINGS NOTES
Reigning Olympic and world champion Liu is the one to beat this yr, and within the absence of You Hao, there must be room for Zou to slide in and presumably be within the medal hunt. That is the place China actually has an edge over Japan, which tends to have decrease issue on this equipment and can nearly definitely not see any finalists, whereas Radivilov may very well be a perhaps for Ukraine.
Not one of the all-arounders on this subdivision really matter rings as a power, except Mohamed, although I don’t assume his routine might be sturdy sufficient to sneak in. In any other case, specialists Vahagn Davtyan of Armenia and Samir Äit Saïd of France each have a tendency to attain excessive sufficient to make it and are key gamers on my shortlist of potential finalists, although maybe not fairly as a lot on my record for medalists.
VAULT NOTES
Tanigawa goes for 2 vaults right here, although this isn’t one thing he’s tried to this point this yr as a result of an harm, and whereas his vaults usually are sturdy, I’m unsure the place he’ll stand on this discipline? I don’t see him as making the ultimate and am setting expectations low, although am wanting ahead to watching to see if we’ll be fortunately stunned.
Chepurnyi, in the meantime, is one in all my favourite vaulters of all time and I’ve him excessive on my record of medal hopefuls, and teammate Radivilov must be within the combine for the ultimate if he can put each to his ft, whereas Schmidt has a excessive issue mixture and will find yourself sneaking in. Among the many all-arounders, Yulo must be a assure for the ultimate if he can hit in {qualifications}, however the identical was true final yr and he acquired a zero on his first vault, so don’t depend your chickens for him or anybody. Lastly, Mohamed could be an outdoor shot, however we might see just a few of those bubble athletes getting in given the tempestuous nature of this equipment!
The highest specialist on this subdivision might be the most effective vaulter on the planet proper now. Artur Davtyan of Armenia is my absolute favourite for gold, although uncharacteristic errors at worlds final yr and Euros this yr held him again. When he sticks, although, his execution might be higher than anybody else in Paris, and he sticks usually, so I’m nonetheless contemplating him the most definitely to win the title. There’s additionally Shek Wai Hung of Hong Kong, who’s form of the alternative of Davtyan in his consistency – or lack thereof – although he’s very thrilling to look at and might be coming in as one in all 5 athletes who’ve put up the highest mixture of issue on the planet this yr.
PARALLEL BARS NOTES
The gold is Zou’s to lose, with the reigning Olympic champion the one one on this discipline able to scoring above a 16, which he did twice at nationals this yr. Zhang can be sturdy right here, whereas for Japan I see Oka and Kaya as most definitely to make it, although Tanigawa can be nice. Kovtun must be one other medal contender, whereas I feel we might see Verniaiev or Chepurnyi within the last as effectively.
Among the many all-arounders, Yulo is an enormous standout, and that is presumably going to be Georgios’ finest shot at an equipment last if I needed to decide only one for him, and the specialist on this group – Angel Barajas of Colombia – goes to be the one to look at. He’s maybe not as polished as lots of the others, however his excessive issue makes him tremendous thrilling to observe and I feel even with a few errors or messy execution deductions he’ll nonetheless be prone to wind up within the last.
HIGH BAR NOTES
Japan can have two medal favorites on this occasion with Hashimoto and Sugino each unimaginable to look at, able to huge issue completed brilliantly. Whereas China isn’t as a lot of a risk, Su did win bronze at worlds with a completely attractive routine, not as noticeably troublesome, however nonetheless excellent, whereas each Xiao and Zhang are able to scores within the mid-14s and may’t be counted out.
For Ukraine, I’d say Kovtun may very well be a finals contender with one in all his finest units, whereas Georgiou and Karimi are form of in the identical boat, nevertheless it’ll rely on how they give the impression of being compared to others who’ve related ranges of capacity, since there are fairly just a few guys I’d wish to see right here however not the room for all of them to make it. Once more, Barajas can be on my record, and with a 6.8 D-score – the best on the planet this yr – I feel he’ll be nearly sure to get in, however as with parallel bars, he’s a bit rushed and scattered in a few of his work and the hits to his E-score may very well be harsh.
Article by Lauren Hopkins
