China’s male gymnasts are poised to dominate in front of their home fans at the Beijing Olympics if they can maintain an awesome run of form that has rivals likening them to machines.
China has a strong record at the gymnastics world championships but has struggled to convert it into Olympic success, where the US, Russia and defending champions Japan are the traditional superpowers.
But with the US missing injured star Paul Hamm and Japan struggling since the Athens Games in 2004, experts believe the sleeping giant will finally stir in Beijing.
Romania’s Nadia Comaneci, who put gymnastics on the map with her perfect 10 score at the 1976 Montreal Games, has strongly backed the team that won four of the eight golds on offer at the world championships in Stuttgart last year.
“The Chinese team is very, very good,” she said. “In the men’s competition, I don’t think any other team could be better than them.”
The Chinese men won the team gold for the first time at the Sydney Games in 2000, but failed to build on the achievement in Athens.
The Japanese, who dominated men’s gymnastics in the 1960s and 1970s, will be hoping to continue their Athens success in Beijing and usher in a new golden era.
Paul Hamm, the men’s all-round champion four years ago, won’t be defending his title after withdrawing last month because of a broken hand.
Comaneci has picked out China’s Yang Wei as the man to beat in Beijing. He won the all-around in Stuttgart, as well as was part of the men’s team that won at the Sydney Olympics.
US gymnast Jonathan Horton admitted it was hard not be intimidated by the form of the Chinese but was hoping his team could spring a surprise.
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