U.S. men fall again in gymnastics team final

ByASSOCIATED PRESS
August 8, 2016, 10:50 PM

— -- RIO DE JANEIRO -- The Japanese men's gymnastics team is back on top at the Olympics.

Led by defending Olympic champion Kohei Uchimura, Japan topped Russia for gold in the men's team final on Monday afternoon. It's Japan's seventh Olympic title and first since 2004. The victory fills in the one hole on Uchimura's résumé. The six-time world champion has said for years an Olympic gold for his homeland is the only medal that matters to him.

Uchimura finished Japan's golden run with a supremely elegant set on floor exercise. He was visibly spent following his dismount, bending over and gasping for breath after saluting the crowd.

Russia edged two-time defending Olympic champion China for silver. Great Britain took fourth.

The U.S. team, which was second in qualifying, struggled early on floor exercise and a late rally wasn't enough as the Americans finished fifth.