US Men’s Gymnastics Team Shines in Qualifying Rounds: How They Stacked Up

PARIS, France — The U.S. men’s gymnastics team arrived in Paris with hopes of securing a medal, a feat not achieved since their bronze in Beijing 16 years ago.

China surged to the forefront of the Olympic men’s gymnastics qualifying on Saturday, posting a team total of 263.028. This impressive performance came even without their veteran, Sun Wei, who was injured in training on Thursday. The Chinese team dazzled with routines on the rings and parallel bars, positioning themselves as favorites for Monday’s final.

Japan, the reigning world champion, clocked in at 260.594. Despite a few unusual mistakes by current world and Olympic champion Daiki Hashimoto, including a mishap on the high bar dismount, they remain formidable. Hashimoto, seemingly troubled by right shoulder discomfort, is third in the all-around standings with a score of 85.064.

In the team finals, scores will reset. The United States, currently fifth with a score of 253.229, will need to sharpen their performance. Britain’s team, sitting in third after a strong showing with 256.561, appears ready to compete for a podium spot. Ukraine edged past the U.S. into fourth with 253.893, despite a shaky high bar performance.

Britain’s Jake Jarman posted an all-around total of 84.897, just ahead of teammate Joe Fraser. Max Whitlock, participating in his fourth and final Olympics, scored 15.133 on the pommel horse, adding to Britain’s medal momentum. “It’s important to focus on our job,” said Whitlock, downplaying any rivalry with the U.S.

First Lady Jill Biden attended the event, supporting the U.S. team and interacting with them post-performance. Frederick Richard expressed mixed feelings about his floor routine, scoring 13.833, but acknowledged room for improvement ahead of the all-around finals.

Brody Malone, recovering from a severe leg injury, faced setbacks with falls on the pommel horse and high bar. This likely disqualifies him from the all-around and event finals. His mishaps forced the U.S. to rely on a lower-scoring routine from Asher Hong, contributing to their gap behind Britain.

U.S. high performance director Brett McClure emphasized the need for cleaner routines heading into team finals. Paul Juda, taking on a pivotal role, showcased his mental toughness and consistent execution. This opportunity arose as Malone’s performance faltered, pushing Juda into a potential all-around final appearance.

Qualifying continues later Saturday, with top competitors Japan and China in the second subdivision. The top eight teams will progress to Monday’s team finals. With Russia absent due to the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, the door is open for the U.S., Britain, and Ukraine to vie for a podium finish.

“Without Russia, there’s a better opportunity, but only a little bit,” Whitlock noted, acknowledging the shift in dynamics.