Gymnastics-Chinese gymnasts devastated after letting team gold slip through

PARIS - Chinese gymnasts were left totally distraught after their gold medal hopes were abruptly dashed in the final moments of the men's team competition at the Paris Olympics on Monday following two error-laden routines on the high bar.

Just when it looked like China had all but secured the title as they led Japan by more than three points with only three more performances left on their final apparatus, things went totally awry.

Xiao Ruoteng completely botched his dismount by landing on both knees to earn his lowest score of the day of 13.433.

Incredibly for a team who barely had a toe out of place during their first five rotations, their gold medal hopes quickly unravelled.

Su Weide, the next Chinese competitor to mount the bar, lost his grip twice and came crashing down on the mat while attempting release and catch manoeuvres during his routine.

That mishap knocked China from first place to second, leaving the entire team shellshocked as Japan snatched the gold. The United States claimed bronze.

"If I think about it now, I might still be in tears," Xiao, part of the bronze medal-winning Chinese team at the Tokyo Games, told reporters.

"The reason why we seemed so sad is because we are always fighting to be number one and we have higher aspirations. We want to win."

Rings specialist Liu Yang, a 29-year-old competing in his third Olympics, blamed himself for not having provided his younger teammate Su with more support.

"As a senior member of the team, I didn't give him the right messages and mental leadership," he said. "I didn't do well enough." REUTERS