RIO DE JANEIRO (REUTERS) - It took him 12 years and four Olympics, but flamboyant German showman Fabian Hambuechen was finally leaping with joy after he soared past his rivals to strike gold with an electrifying routine on the horizontal bar on Tuesday (Aug 16).

The 28-year-old was the first to mount the bar and he showed no fear as he pulled off four high-flying release-and-catch moves.

Two full twisting somersaults over the bar - a Cassina followed by a Kolman - proved to be the highlights of a routine that ended with the German winding his arms backwards to steady his feet on dismount.

However, the man who used to fly through the air wearing spectacles when he made his Olympic debut in 2004 faced an anxious wait to see if any of the remaining seven finalists would surpass his score of 15.766.

Up next was his biggest threat, flying Dutchman Epke Zonderland.

Zonderland had turned Hambuechen's golden dreams into silver four years ago but the 2012 champion's hopes of a repeat triumph came crashing down as he lost his grip while attempting a heart-stopping Cassina into a Kovacs combination.

Falling flat on his face, with his arms outstretched and legs splayed on the mat, Zonderland was a vision of defeat as he lay still for several seconds.

Britain's Nile Wilson was caught saying "No way" as he waited for Zonderland to get back on his feet. Although the 30-year-old remounted the bar, he knew there would be no place for him on the podium and he finished seventh with 14.033.

Zonderland's misfortune allowed American Danell Leyva to pick up his second silver of the day after also finishing second on the parallel bars.

While Leyva kissed his chalk-covered knuckles on completing his dismount, his stepfather and coach Yin Alvarez was off sprinting down the dugout for the second time on Tuesday, high-fiving grey-suited officials.

Wilson grabbed a sixth medal in gymnastics for the British team when he claimed bronze with 15.466.