Hancharou ends Chinese supremacy in Trampoline

Rio de Janeiro (BRA), Aug 13, 2016: Chinese supremacy end, Belarusian prodigy Uladzislau Hancharou ended a nine-year undefeated run by Chinese gymnasts in Olympic and World Trampoline competition Saturday in Rio, capturing the gold medal over 2012 Olympic champion Dong Dong and 2015 World Champion Gao Lei.

Hancharou jumps to the crown
Two years ago, at only 18, Hancharou made a name for himself by bouncing to bronze at the World Championships. A year later, he took silver behind Gao Lei. He confirmed his status as a contender who could beat the Chinese with a victory at the Test Event in the Olympic Arena in April.

In the hour of decision, Hancharou performed with elegance. Second in qualification behind Gao, the 20-year-old Belarussian delivered a squeaky clean if less difficult routine compared to the Chinese in the final to take gold, his country’s first Olympic title in the sport.

Third Olympic medal completes the set for Dong Dong
After bronze in Beijing in 2008 and gold in London in 2012, Dong Dong was decked in silver this time, becoming the first gymnast to gather a complete set of Olympic medals in Trampoline. The triple World champion, 27, may not have won the title in Rio, but he was delighted to be on the podium, where he has stood at all World Championships and Olympic Games between 2007 and 2014.

Gao Lei’s airshow merits bronze
As the reigning World champion, armed with a routine of incredible difficulty and amplitude, Gao Lei came to Rio as a serious contender for gold. The 23-year-old led after the qualification round, but in the final, he had control problems and wasn’t able to count on his strengths — time of flight and the highest difficulty score of the field — to make the difference. As a result, he settled for bronze in his first Olympic appearance. —- FIG

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