'My heart breaks': World champ's 'shocking' career end at Tokyo Olympics
One of the greatest male gymnasts of all-time has crashed out of his home Olympics in absolutely heartbreaking fashion.
Two-time Olympic champion Kohei Uchimura fell on the high bars during qualifying and won't advance to the next round at the Tokyo Olympics.
'A NEW KING': Aussie golfer Cam Smith's Olympic haircut wins hearts
'CROWN YOURSELF': Curious detail in first Tokyo medal ceremony
WOW: Judo athlete sent home from Olympics after refusing to fight Israeli
The 32-year-old Japanese champion, who won gold at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, signalled his intention to call time on his storied career after his home Games.
But fans were left utterly shattered when Uchimura was midway through his set before he peeled off while doing a complicated connection.
He picked himself up and finished his routine, drilling his dismount.
His score of 13.866 placed him outside of the top eight, meaning he will not make the finals.
Uchimura competed as an individual, meaning he will not be part of the team final on Monday.
The Japanese legend waved to the judges and received a round of applause inside the largely empty Ariake Gymnastics Centre before quickly exiting the competition floor.
Fans devastated over Kohei Uchimura farewell
Uchimura deserved a legend's farewell at the Games, but Covid-19 restrictions meant a shattered looking champion departed in eery silence.
Fans were left 'heartbroken' watching a champion exit in such crushing circumstances.
Heartbreaking that we won’t see Uchimura in the high bar finals. As a fan of the sport, wanted to see one of the greatest of all time finish his career on his home turf with a chance for gold.
— John Roethlisberger (@jrflipfest) July 24, 2021
Looking like a sad end for Kohei Uchimura on the Olympic stage as he falls in qualifying on the High Bar, his only event at his home Olympics #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/q2S3hgGUAB
— John Watson (@JohnWatsonSport) July 24, 2021
Uchimura falls! 😭
That might be the most heartbreaking moment of the Games already decided! 😢😢😢#Tokyo2020 #ArtisticGymnastics— Robyn Brailey (@robynbrailey) July 24, 2021
what a devastating fall for kohei uchimura knowing this is his last olympic games at his home🥲🥲it’s all gone wrong in qualifying 🧎🏻♀️🧎🏻♀️🧎🏻♀️🧎🏻♀️ pic.twitter.com/HWCgIjF0em
— 🥢 (@wnwooing) July 24, 2021
So upset that Uchimura Kohei had to walk off the podium with no one (in the crowd) showing their appreciation for him as an athlete. He is inspirational, best of the best since 2005. Always a champion
— Liv B (@livmburnett) July 24, 2021
It felt quite emotional to watch Uchimura do this. After he fell, he got up and nailed the rest of the exercise, including repeating the stalder 1.5, and making it look gorgeous. If this is the end - and it most likely is - he finished with dignity. #Tokyo2020 #ArtisticGymnastics https://t.co/p6RrDQZZi2
— Blythe Lawrence (@rockergymnastix) July 24, 2021
currently crying my eyes out because kohei uchimura fell and wont qualify for event finals.. sucks this is the way he is ending his career. been a big fan of his gymastics since 2009, my heart breaks for him.
— 🏳️🌈 (@4885multifan) July 24, 2021
Absolutely devastated for Kohei Uchimura! The high bar final is going to be missing one of the best! #Gymnastics #Tokyo2020
— Shannon Ruth Abraham (@Shannon_xoxo) July 24, 2021
Devastated for Kohei Uchimura. One of the greatest gymnasts of all time. His career was meant to end on a gold in HB at a home Olympics. And it’s all gone wrong in qualifying. Crushing 😭💔🇯🇵 #Tokyo2020 #gymnastics
— Jennifer Slater (@jenniferslater_) July 24, 2021
Kohei Uchimura remains the greatest male gymnast of all time. Absolutely heartbroken that he won’t have the chance to compete for a medal at his final olympics. That it’s a home olympics for him makes it even worse. Absolute legend of the sport. #Tokyo2020
— Jade (@bewarenostalgia) July 24, 2021
The fact that these are Kohei Uchimura's last Olympic games is breaking my heart because this man is best male gymnast ever and yet he had to leave in such a sad way. I don't want to do this no more. pic.twitter.com/4Ar9xG3snJ
— (Wh)alien ⁷🧈 (@a_u_gustd) July 24, 2021
Oh my! “King Kohei” is now out of #Tokyo2020 . Yes, this is “The” Kohei Uchimura, the three-time Olympic champion and defending gymnastics world champion. He fell from the horizontal bar while performing his routine. The first shocking news in the #Olympics indeed.
— JL (@jamesvitaliano) July 24, 2021
with AAP
Watch 'Mind Games', the new series from Yahoo Sport Australia exploring the often brutal mental toil elite athletes go through in pursuit of greatness:
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.
