Rio the Last Olympic Games in His Top Form, Uchimura Says

As much as the Japanese artistic gymnastics superstar Kohei Uchimura wants to be a part of the 2020 Olympic Games in his hometown in Tokyo, he acknowledged that his performances would not be as impressive as compared to before.

“The Rio Olympics will probably the last when I am at the top of my game,” the five-time Olympic medalist said in Japanese, according to an FIG interview that was published this Wednesday. “I want to be faultless.”

Uchimura’s response triggered an interviewer to ask him which apparatus would he focus on if he would become a specialist instead of an all-around athlete after the Olympic Games in Rio.

“The risk of injury increases with age,” the 27-year old Japanese athlete said. “One can carry on competing on the horizontal bar for longer than the other apparatus. My technique is good, and I’m capable of scoring highly, so I would choose the horizontal bar.”

Kohei Uchimura is the reigning World title holder on the horizontal bar apparatus. 

Uchimura will have a chance to make a history in the Rio Olympic Games if he wins the All-around competition, as he would be the first gymnast in 44 years to become a two-consecutive time Olympic All-around champion.

“The first time I went to the Olympics I felt a bit lost,” said Uchimura while pertaining to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where he won the Olympic all-around silver at a young age of 19. “I won a medal, but I was also lucky… I was hopeful at the London Olympics, and although I wasn’t perfect, I won the gold medal. This third time, I am aiming for perfection. This is what will satisfy me, and if as a result, I win a medal, then I will be happy.”

However, the 27-year old Japanese gymnast believes that target is unachievable.

“I will never achieve perfection as long as I practice gymnastics,” he said.

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