Nanning, China — Battling a neck injury, Zhang Boheng reclaimed the men’s all-around title at the National Gymnastics Championships on Monday, scoring an impressive 82.965 points. Despite his victory, Zhang believes there’s more work ahead for China’s gymnasts.
Zhang, who had clinched two consecutive titles since 2022 before being upset by Shi Cong last year, faced challenges leading up to the competition in Nanning, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Just a day before departing, he injured his neck during rings training, making it difficult for him to bend his head during the event.
“Winning the gold makes me happy, but I think more work is needed for the Chinese men’s gymnasts,” Zhang remarked after the final. He stumbled off the pommel horse during the competition but remained the only athlete to score over eighty points.
Silver medalist Shi Cong also overcame significant hurdles. He suffered a broken rib and was diagnosed with pneumothorax less than three months before the tournament. “I thought I would not be able to compete here,” Shi said. “So even now I’m still fifty percent away from my top form, and I’m very satisfied with myself.” Despite a fall from the horizontal bar in the last round, Shi secured second place with 79.765 points.
Lan Xingyu took the bronze with a score of 79.632 points.
The competition highlighted the need for adaptation to the new 2025-2028 Code of Points. The NHK Cup in Japan, occurring almost simultaneously, saw nearly 20 Japanese male all-around gymnasts surpass the 80-point mark under the new rules. “Compared with competitors like Japan, I think we should all improve our understanding of the new rules,” Zhang noted.
As the international gymnastics scene evolves, Zhang’s determination reflects a collective drive among China’s athletes to reach new heights.
