Japan's Daiki Hashimoto wins fourth straight men's all-around gold at artistic gymnastics worlds

Daiki Hashimoto of Japan soared to gold during the men's all-around final at the 54th artistic gymnastics world championships on Thursday, sealing his fourth straight title with a brilliant performance on high bar in the final rotation.

The 25-year-old Hashimoto's total of 85.988 included 14.766 on high bar, even though he could have opted for a slightly safer routine to assure himself of the top spot on the podium in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

That's simply not how Hashimoto, the 2020 Olympic all-around champion, goes about his business. He had no trouble overcoming a sluggish start on floor exercise that left him 10th after the first rotation to take another step toward establishing himself as one of the best men's gymnasts of all time.

Hashimoto's run of four consecutive world all-around titles that began in 2021 is second to Japan great Kohei Uchimura, who won six straight all-around gold between 2009 and 2015.

Yang Haonan of China was second at 84.199. Joe Fraser of Great Britain, whose struggles during the team final played a factor in his team finishing just off the medal stand, surged to third with an 83.531.

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Samuel Zakutney of Saint John was 19th in the field of 24 with a score of 77.432.

Arsenii Dukhno of Russia, making his world championship senior debut at 18, was just a fraction behind Hashimoto heading into the final event. Competing ahead of the Japanese superstar, Dukhno fell early in his routine and then followed with multiple form failures. His score of 11.566 sent him tumbling to seventh.

Artistic Gymnastics World Championships: Men's all-round final