China’s Chen Yibing was the overwhelming favorite to take gold in the men’s rings, but instead, Arthur Zanetti earned the first gymnastics medal in Brazil’s history by besting Chen by just a tenth of a point.
Brazil’s Arthur Zanetti Wins Men’s Rings In Massive Upset
Zanetti wasn’t the last person in the world one would expect to medal: although he didn’t compete in the all-around portion of the gymnastics competition, his routine on rings in qualifications was fourth of any competitor. He’d also won silver at the 2011 World Championships and 2011 Pan-American games. But Chen was a four-time defending world champion and had won the gold on the rings in 2008. You can’t get a much bigger favorite to win an event in anything.
But with their routines in the books, Zanetti had performed the better routine. Each gymnast attempted sets with the same difficulty level and therefore maximum score, but Zanetti’s 15.9 edged Chen’s 15.8, giving his nation its first gymnastics medal of any type -- let alone gold.
Here’s the medal podium in the event:
Gold: Arthur Zanetti, Brazil
Silver: Chen Yibing, China
Bronze: Matteo Morandi, Italy
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