China's Zou Kai bites the gold medal at the awarding ceremony of
men's floor exercise final of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at National Indoor
Stadium in Beijing, China, Aug. 17, 2008. Zou Kai claimed the title of the event
with a score of 16.050. (Xinhua Photo)
China's Zou Kai performs on the floor during the men's apparatus
final of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing,
China, Aug. 17, 2008. Zou Kai claimed the title of the event with a score of
16.050. (Xinhua Photo)
By sportswriter Chen Yu
BEIJING, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese gymnast Zou Kai won men's floor
exercise gold medal Sunday at the Beijing Olympics.
The 20-year-old, who was making his Olympic debut, won the sunrise gold
medal at 16.050 points, after reigning world champion Diego Hypolito of Brazil
and Olympic silver medallist Marian Dragulescu failed their routines.
Gervasio Deferr from Spain took the silver in 15.775 points, and the bronze
went to Russia's Anton Golotsutskov, in 15.725 points.
It was host China's fourth gold medal, after its gymnasts swept the golds
for men's team, women's team and men's all-around events.
Zou, entering the final in sixth place and low on the list of hopefuls for
the gold medal, brought a sunrise when he took to the floor as the fifth player
and staged a strong performance on difficulty of 6.7 points, the highest among
the eight finals.
"I do not think I am the dark horse," said Zou Kai, adding that he believed
he is strong enough for a gold and he is in good form in the competition.
"I entered the floor exercise final in first place in last year's World
Championships, and I came home empty-handed only because I did not play my
normal level in the final," he said.
"The team medal is very important to all of us and this medal is very
important to me," he added.
Before Zou, Dragulescu, a three-time Olympian and the floor exercise silver
medallist in Athens, sat on the mat after a tumbling combination.
Hypolito, known for having one of the most difficult floor exercise
routines, also suffered a last-minute defeat when he fell back and sat on the
floor at the end of his complicated routines.
"I pushed my legs underneath and there was a mistake," said Hypolito. "It
was a technical mistake. there's nothing I can do with it. I'm sorry, I'm sorry
to all the Brazilians."
China's Zou Kai performs on the floor during the men's apparatus
final of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing,
China, Aug. 17, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)
China's Zou Kai performs on the floor during the men's apparatus
final of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing,
China, Aug. 17, 2008. Zou Kai claimed the title of the event with a score of
16.050. (Xinhua Photo)
Anton Golotsutskov of Russia performs on the floor during the
men's apparatus final of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at National Indoor Stadium
in Beijing, China, Aug. 17, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)
