Zou Jingyuan of Team People's Republic of China competes during the Artistic Gymnastics Men's Parallel Bars Final on day ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 05, 2024 in Paris, France. Photo: VCG

 
The gymnastics events at the Paris Olympics have concluded, with the Chinese gymnastics team wrapping up their campaign with 2 golds, 5 silvers, and 2 bronzes.

On Sunday, China's Liu Yang successfully defended his title in the men's rings event, securing the first gold for the Chinese gymnastics team at the Games. He also became the third gymnast in Olympic history to win two gold medals in the men's rings.

During the competition, China's Zou Jingyuan was the first to compete, delivering a high score of 15.233. Liu Yang followed, executing each move with precision, earning a score of 15.300. No subsequent gymnast surpassed their scores, resulting in Liu's gold and Zou's silver.

"I used to see others as competitors, but from Rio to Tokyo and now Paris, my mind-set has changed. I focus on perfecting my own routine and showing my best to the world, without comparing myself to others," Liu, reflecting on his journey at the Paris Olympics.

Zou has won the gold medal in the men's parallel bars event. This Olympic journey saw him secure one gold and two silvers. 

Reflecting on his Paris experience, Zou acknowledged both regrets and achievements. He plans to take some time off, stepping away from his athlete role to live a more ordinary life before returning to gymnastics.

At the Paris Olympics, Zou's victory was not only a reward for his past efforts but also a significant boost for the Chinese gymnastics team. 

Zou's routines were praised by Japanese gymnastics legend Kohei Uchimura as "moves only a robot could perform" and by Olympic gold medalist Zou Kai as "textbook-level."

Chinese gymnast Zhang Boheng won silver in the men's all-around and bronze in the high bar. He admitted that competing in multiple events in team and all-around competitions was physically challenging. 

"Starting from the second event, my shoulder kept cramping. I relied solely on willpower to push through," said Zhang.

In the women's uneven bars event on Sunday, Qiu Qiuyuan won the silver medal, earning the Chinese women's gymnastics team their first medal of the Games. The 2007-born gymnast made a strong debut at the Olympics. 

"In the uneven bars final, I performed at the highest difficulty and gave my all," she stated before the competition.

18-year-old Zhou Yaqin won the silver medal in the women's balance beam with a score of 14.100 on Monday. 

In 2024, Zhou won gold in both balance beam and floor exercise at the Cottbus World Cup, marking a significant milestone in her career. Paris 2024 was also Zhou's first Olympic appearance.