Oldham previews men's world all-around final
Injury has prevented Sam Oldham from taking part at the World Gymnastics Championships but he has been a keen observer and ahead of the men's all-around final he provides the low down on the men battling it out for the medals in China...
Thursday 9 October 2014 10:41, UK
To be crowned the all-around champion of the world is what every young gymnast dreams of.
It takes style, power strength, elegance, complete control and a million other things to be an all-around world champion
It takes style, power strength, elegance, complete control and a million other things to be an all-around world champion. 'The King', Kohei Uchimura is heading for his fifth world title unless someone can upset the apple cart and shock the world of gymnastics.
He was two marks in front of his closest rivals in qualifying but there are plenty of gymnasts ready to pounce if things don't go to plan for him. China’s Deng Shudi and Ukrainian Oleg Vernaiev will bring the difficulty, both hitting 99+ start values on the first day of competition.
Sam Mikulak will want to put right his mistake in last year’s final which cost him the silver medal and having helped the USA take bronze in the team final he will come out all guns blazing.
Watch out for the Russian David Belyavskiy too, he had a great qualifying and if he hits he will be in with a shout, there’s no doubt about that. It will be a tough ask of Fabian Hambuchen to medal again this year but if anyone can have blinder he's the man. Anyone who can put up a 7.4 on any apparatus is in contention in my book.
Then we have the Dan Purvis. He has been the rock the GB men’s team for a few years now and if people make mistakes Dan could creep up the standings. With floor and parallel bars being his strengths he could get off the mark with a big score.
Finally there is Max Whitlock, he's been the man for GB in 2014. He has the biggest pommel routine in the world and with many athletes struggling on this nemesis of an apparatus this gives him a big advantage early on. As one of the few men to break 90.00 this year he will looking to take that step up from last year’s fourth place finish and leave with something shiny around his neck!
One thing is for sure this final will be far from straight forward. Let the battle commence!
