Photo: Li Hao/GT

Chinese gymnasts Zhang Boheng and Xiao Ruoteng won silver and bronze medals in the men's individual all-around final in gymnastics at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Thursday. This is likely Xiao's final Olympic appearance, as he bid farewell to the Paris Games in a post that night.

During the all-around final, team captain Zhang made an error on the first apparatus, the floor exercise. Commentators noted that the mistake was likely due to fatigue rather than technical issues.

For all-around athletes, the nearly three-hour competition across six pieces of apparatus is physically draining.

Despite the early setback, Zhang performed exceptionally well on his subsequent rotations. Although he staged a remarkable comeback, Zhang had to settle for silver, being beaten out for the gold by Japanese gymnast Oka Shinnosuke by the slimmest of margins.

Regarding his upcoming individual events, Zhang said, "Enjoy the competition, and there is nothing to regret. Life is about looking forward."

"I approach this as my final all-around event and final high bar routine in my Olympic career," Xiao stated before the final.

In 2016, Xiao was unable to compete in the Rio Olympics due to an elbow injury.

Xiao was set to retire after the Tokyo Olympics, but he continued through another Olympic cycle despite injuries to pursue his Olympic dream.

At the Tokyo Olympics, Xiao and his teammates won a bronze medal in the men's team event. He also secured a silver in the men's individual all-around final and a bronze in the men's floor exercise.

Unfortunately, at the Paris Olympics, he once again fell short of an Olympic gold medal and may not have another chance.

"I hope the spirit of facing difficulties and challenges, never giving up, and persevering until the end can help you!" This is the message Xiao aimed to convey in his farewell post to the Olympics.

Global Times