Rings Maestro: Liu Yang clinches second straight Olympic gold in Paris

Liu Yang of China has long been a master of the rings, and once again showcased his scintillating skills at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. The two-time world champion, who claimed gold in the event three years ago at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games, qualified for the final in the French capital in second place before delivering a flawless routine to secure his second consecutive Olympic gold medal.

Scoring 15.300 points, he narrowly edged out his compatriot Zou Jingyuan, who tallied 15.233 points. Greece's Eleftherios Petrounias, the Rio 2016 champion, took home bronze this time with 15.100 points.

The competition between Liu and Zou was intense, with the difference ultimately coming down to their dismounts. Zou struggled with several small movements key to controlling his double-double dismount, while Liu only had a slight hop forward upon landing.

This victory marked a significant achievement for Liu, as no man had claimed back-to-back Olympic titles on the rings since Japan's Nakayama Akinori in 1968 and 1972. Liu became the third man to win two consecutive gold medals on the apparatus. It was also the third time for China to claim the top two spots in the event.

The victory meant redemption for China after narrowly missing gold twice at the Bercy Arena last week.

"I was in great form today. I performed at my best," said Liu. "I'm a very organized person. I make plans and stick to them, so following my schedule over the past few days helped me bounce back from the team final result to secure gold here."

The result also marked a remarkable comeback for France's Samir Ait Said, who suffered a serious injury on the vault at Rio 2016. Despite missing out on a medal with a score of 15.000 points, Ait Said delivered a strong routine in front of a passionate home crowd. The spectators waved French flags and cheered loudly for the 34-year-old veteran, their enthusiasm undimmed by his fourth-place finish.