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The Japanese Men’s Team was one of the standout teams at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. The team started off well on the qualifiers day as two of the members appeared top. While Hashimoto Daiki reigned as leader in Horizontal Bar with 15.0, Chiba Kenta led the All-Around with 85.799. Continuing with the streak, the Japanese Team strode to the top in both the qualifiers as well as the finals with 258.228 and 255.594 respectively. While the team efforts shined the team, the leading member stood no behind.

Hashimoto Daiki is a promising name in Japanese Gymnastics. The gymnast who was named the all-around champion in 2022 last year came back to win the title; and this time with a little help from a renowned figure. Uchimura Kohei, who mentored Hashimoto, holds a record for owning the most all-around titles. While Simone Biles stands at 5, Kohei owns six all-around championship titles. Daiki now following the steps of these icons very closely, has stepped in to stand worthy of the mentorship and the sacrifice.

Hashimoto dominates the field at the 2023 Worlds

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The Japanese team took over the top 24 contenders following the qualifiers round. Chiba Kenta, Kazuma Kaya, and Hashimoto Daiki occupied the first spots on the men’s all-around list. However, the World Gymnastics Championship rules that each country is allowed and obliged to send just 2 of the contending team members. The team decided to send in Daiki, the 2022 world champion despite his placement at 3rd position.

 

Hashimoto then entering the arena did not leave much space for the spectators to question the decision. Daiki put up an agreeable score on the board; carrying a graceful execution of movements. Hashimoto earned top scores in Vault as well as Horizontal Bars with 15.000 and 14.500 points in each. Tallying up the rest of the scores on the apparatus, Daiki accumulated a total of 86.132; beating Ukrainian gymnast KOVTUN Illia by 1.134. Putting up a stellar performance, Daiki reigned successfully in both retaining his title as well as living up to Kazuma’s sacrifice.

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Also Read: Outclassing Reigning Champion Daiki Hashimoto, Team USA?s Dark Horse Sends Strong Message at World Artistic Gymnastics Championships 2023

Hashimoto treads the gymnastics realm

Daiki is a name never unheard of in the gymnastics industry. From Olympic medals to World Championship, the Japanese gymnast has accumulated coveted titles throughout his career. In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Daiki attained 2 golds, in the all-around and horizontal bar, followed by a silver as a team. The 22-year-old then competing at the 2022 Worlds in Liverpool stretched ahead to earn the ultimate championship title in all-around.

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Following the youngster’s accolades, Daiki is widely known as the successor of the most renowned personality in gymnastics, Kohei Uchimura. Kohei throughout his career is known to have been a 7-time Olympic medallist added to the 21-time World medallist. The legendary gymnast still holds the record for owning the most all-around titles. Hashimoto now heading down the path, could speculatively work towards meeting the pinnacle.

Watch this story: As Simone Biles and Michael Phelps Work Towards Mental Health Another Rising Gymnast Breaks Silence on Self Care in Sports

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