Brody Malone, who returned from a leg injury to win his third US title in June, fell twice on the high bar and once on the pommel horse to scuttle a possible return to the all-around final as the United States fell to fifth in the men’s. qualifying gymnastics through two subdivisions there.
China rose to the top in the second subdivision, combining a team total of 263,028 while competing next to Japan, the world champion who managed some uncharacteristic mistakes by the current world and Olympic champion Daiki Hashimoto and finished in 260,594.
Great Britain posted a team total of 256,561 for the best score in the first of three subdivisions and sits in third place overall. Ukraine overcame a nightmarish set on the high bar to slip past the US and finish fourth at 253.893, with the Americans fifth at 253.229.
The US, the third-placed champions at the 2023 world championships, came to Paris confident they had a legitimate chance to medal in the team competition for the first time since taking bronze in Beijing 16 years ago.
Malone’s second error on the high bar — a high-risk, high-reward event where he’s hoping to win gold at the 2022 world championships — forced the Americans to use Asher Hong’s 12.600, one of the reasons the U.S. finished 3.322 behind Britain. the first part.
“It’s not perfect,” said US high performance director Brett McClure. “And there were some mistakes. I think leading into the team final, we had to clean up some things.”
Frederick Richard and Paul Juda will represent America in the all-around final.
The five-man Chinese team, missing veteran Sun Wei after he was injured during practice on Saturday, used a series of regular routines on the rings and parallel bars to stamp themselves as the favorites heading into Saturday’s finals.
While Japan’s Hashimoto will get a chance to defend his all-around title, he won’t be on the high bar – his signature event – after stumbling on the dismount. He appeared to be experiencing discomfort in his right shoulder for most of the afternoon and was treated by Team Japan’s trainer shortly after finishing in the rings.
Hashimoto finished third in the all-around through two subdivisions at 85.064, behind teammate Shinnosuke Oka (86.865) and China’s Zhang Boheng (88.597).
The score will be reset in the team final, although the only real question is who will join Japan and China on the podium with defending champions Russia ineligible due to the war in Ukraine.
England put on a largely error-free clinic across six rotations. Jake Jarman (84.897) and Joe Fraser (84.666) posted top scores, and six-time Olympic medalist Max Whitlock, 31, provided an electric pommel horse routine – his signature event – that made him stand out. relieved.
“A lot of people ask that question about ‘How does it feel to be on top of the USA?'” said Whitlock, who is competing in his fourth and final Games. “To be honest, you take it with a pinch of salt. I think it’s really important to kind of just think about our project.”
Whitlock’s 15.133 trailed only American Stephen Nedoroscik, a 25-year-old specialist whose 15.200 chances earned him a place in the event final and gave his teammates early momentum.
“So far it’s been great. I’m handling my nerves well,” Nedoroscik said. “I worked for 45 seconds.
“Of course it’s the biggest stage in the world. It’s only once every four years, but at the same time I put chalk in my hand and do the horse for the team, it’s no different.”
Richard scored 13.833 in the floor exercise for America, a bit below what he knows he needs to medal in the all-around final next week.
While Richard, who won bronze in the all-around at the 2023 world championships, was expected to advance, Juda’s performance was a bit of a surprise.
Yuda, 23, who unabashedly broke down in tears after being named in the five-man Olympic squad, threw her arms in the air after landing in the floor exercise. His total of 82,865 was fourth in preliminary qualifying, behind only Richard (83,498), Jarman and Fraser.
“I think today is going to be one of those things where I say that I did everything in the Olympics, but hopefully I make the finals, I think that’s the coolest thing,” Yuda said. “And you know, the coolest is yet to come.”
Nedoroscik will also appear in the team finals, when three people from each country compete in each apparatus and all three scores count.
The third part ends on Saturday. The top eight finisher teams advance to Monday’s team finals.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.