Rival Contender?s Unique Advantage Leaves America Sidelined at World Artistic Gymnastics Championships?2023

As the last day of the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championship began, the world is still under the influence of the previous day’s exhibits. While the recollection of the US team’s historic moments is underway, the 20-year-old Stanford gymnast earned his third victory. Considered the second best in pommel horse routine in the world, the starlet knocked off Max Whitlock as well. But there was a catch today.

Jake Jarman, the artistic gymnastic prodigy from Great Britain, outdid himself in the vault. However, his gold win with a 15.050 was not unusual for a reason. Pushing Khoi to 14.849, the 2022 Commonwealth Games all-round gold medalist, played it smart this time.

Gymnastics legend’s smart move for gold

As the first routine of the day started, the men prepped up for the vault routine. After the highly anticipated scores came out, FIGymnastics took to their ‘X’ handle to update the netizens. The post reads, “Jake Jarman lands an amazing Yonekura (Kasamatsu with 2.5 twists). He’s currently the only one in the world doing this vault, which carries a difficulty score of 6.0. Then a Dragulescu with a step back! Jake skips delightedly off the podium. 15.05 average gives him the lead!”?

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Jake’s smart play cost the American star performer Khoi Young, pushing him to the silver. Moreover, the four golds in the Commonwealth Games landed in his arms because of the D-score of this tough routine. Though Young clinched his third silver of the season, the young gymnast’s illustrious career is in the making.

America’s Dark Horse

The pommel horse is one apparatus where the gymnastic men of the US men have consistently lagged behind. On October 7th, Khoi entered the apparatus finals and took a stand against it. The 20-year-old Standford-groomed qualified for the Pommel Horse during the qualification round with a score of 15.066. Moreover, his score against the top British gymnast, Max Whitlock, was just a few decimals off. The former, though, was in the lead as the two involved in their second head-to-head battle. However, Young did the unthinkable by taking on the win. He finished his routine with the Busnari and the Scissor handstand, earning a total score of 14.966. Not only that, he defeated the 6-time pommel horse champion, leaving him with a 14.300. As a result, Khoi received a silver medal for finishing in second place on the scoreboard.

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As the last day of the Olympic qualifying event kick started, the gymnasts felt a rush of emotions. The next being the 2024 Paris Olympics, they are set to notch their games up.