Kouhei Uchimura - A Great Legend Lauded

I trust you'll let me spare another episode on Kouhei Uchimura, the super gymnast who has just made himself the fourth gymnast to reign both men's individual and group artistic gymnastics. In the interview of the three medalists just after the contest, the bronze medalist Max Whitlock had only to say:

"Uchimura is our role model. I've watched him perform for years and must say his scores are utterly astounding. His last horizontal bar was just breathtaking - no word to say but simply crazy."

The silver medalist Oleg Verniaiev said in sheer admiration:

"Kouhei is a legend. All of us young gymnasts adore him. You might have thought I was breezing by, but not at all. Sharing the same time and place to perform with him at Rio was such an experience for me."

Asked how he felt being compared to such legends as Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt, Uchimura commented:

"Personally, I don't think gymnastics is not that well known by people; many react to Phelps and Bolt but not yet to Kouhei Uchimura.

"But, I believe I've done something memorable to the world winning both individual and group competitions. Now, the world might react to me and know gymnastics somewhat better.

"From this day on, I'm determined to let the world know just as well as of Bolt and Phelps - not of me necessarily but of my sport gymnastics."

What impresses me most is the way Kouhei Uchimura has consistently tackled all the six events throughout his career so far, notwithstanding certain rule changes that had led many gymnasts to turn event specialists.

Uchimjura often speaks of artistic gymnastics a comprehensive art and has lived up to his world to be an authetic gymnast covering all the events.

At the last horizontal bar, Uchimura finished his own performance with impressive 15.800 and turned his back on Verniaiev heading for the bar. He told himself he had done his utmost and would not dare watch Verniaiev perform.

"I thought I should leave my fate to deity, as it were", he confided afterwards.

Uchimura was trailing 0.901 point behind Verniaiev and was not sure he would pull through.

"I had a feeling I was an inch behind him, but I had done my very best - I had nothing to regret", recalled Uchimura.

Nothing to regret; so much to boast, my dear Kouhei.
(Nathan Shiga)