Japan repeated as men’s team champion at the World Gymnastics Championships, adding to its 2024 Olympic title to extend its longest reign atop the sport in nearly 50 years.
The Japanese, led by the last two Olympic all-around gold medalists Daiki Hashimoto and Shinnosuke Oka, topped a team of Russian gymnasts for gold in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
China took bronze to round out the first three nations to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The U.S. finished sixth — its lowest spot at an Olympics or worlds since 2006 — bringing back one member of the 2024 Olympic bronze medal team (Frederick Richard).
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The Americans can still qualify for LA 2028 at the 2027 Worlds, where the last nine Olympic team spots will be decided.
“This is sports, there’s days we lose,” Richard said. “It sucks that fate has a plan for us sometimes, and it’s not the one we want, but we come back stronger.”
Japan has won three consecutive Olympic or world team titles for the first time since it won all 10 Olympic and world titles from 1960 through 1978.
“It was a truly wonderful moment,” Hashimoto said, according to World Gymnastics. “However, today’s competition was extremely difficult. In the history of this sport, it’s been rare recently for a Japanese team to win consecutive titles.
The Japanese prevailed comfortably — by 1.599 points, more than the margin of a fall on a routine — despite worlds rookie Shohei Kawakami falling off the high bar on the final rotation.
Hashimoto, who competed on all six events, anchored the team by hitting the final high bar routine.
“Daiki has an absolute sense of security and strength that I don’t have,” Oka said, according to Kyodo News. “I respect that position and think it’s amazing.”
Russia — competing as neutrals under the World Gymnastics 2 name — participated in a team event at a global championship for the first time since it won the Tokyo Olympics.
Worlds continue Wednesday with the women’s team final, live on Peacock and NBCSN at 1:30 p.m. ET.
The U.S. women won the last seven world team titles dating to 2011, but China had the highest score in qualifying.
