Paris, August 06, 2024, The Europe Today: Zou Jingyuan secured the men’s parallel bars title on Monday, earning China its second gymnastics gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Despite battling a shoulder injury, Zou delivered a stellar performance, amassing 16.200 points to narrowly surpass Ukraine’s Illia Kovtun, who took silver with 15.500 points. Shinnosuke Oka of Japan, the all-around champion, claimed the bronze with 15.300 points.
Zou’s victory makes him only the third man to win consecutive gold medals on this apparatus, a testament to his exceptional skill and determination. The defending champion’s near-perfect routine drew gasps from the crowd at Bercy Arena as he executed smooth connections and demonstrated impeccable control over the bars.
Zou was seen nursing his right shoulder after Sunday’s rings final, where he earned a silver medal. He acknowledged that the injury had affected his training, making his triumph on the parallel bars even more remarkable.
His compatriot, Zhang Boheng, who recently won silver in the men’s all-around, finished fourth in Monday’s competition. Zhang’s performance, though commendable, fell short of the podium.
Zou’s resilience and exceptional performance have further solidified his status as a leading figure in gymnastics, inspiring fans and fellow athletes alike.
