Zhang Boheng reclaimed the men’s all-around title at China’s National Gymnastics Championships in Nanning this week, scoring 82.965 points in a nail-biting final. But the victory came with a twist: Zhang battled a neck injury sustained just days before the event, leaving him unable to fully bend his head during routines.
Despite the setback, Zhang outperformed rivals, becoming the only gymnast to break the 80-point barrier. His win, however, was bittersweet. 'I’m happy, but we need to work harder to match global standards,' he said, referencing Japan’s NHK Cup where 20+ male gymnasts scored over 80 points under new 2025-2028 rules.
Fellow competitor Shi Cong, who dethroned Zhang in 2023, faced his own struggles. Recovering from a broken rib and pneumothorax, Shi stumbled on the horizontal bar but still secured silver (79.765 points). 'Competing at all felt like a win,' he admitted.
Lan Xingyu rounded out the podium with bronze (79.632 points), as China’s gymnastics scene heats up ahead of future international showdowns.
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