TOKYO — McKayla Maroney gave the Americans a sweep of the first three gold medals by winning the vault title Saturday, and Japan’s Kohei Uchimura took gold on floor exercise about 18 hours after becoming the first man to win three all-around titles at the world gymnastics championships.
“It just shows we are the best,” Maroney said. “We come for business and that’s what we want to do. We all work really, really hard for it.”
Uchimura and the Americans failed to win any more medals — let alone more gold — the rest of the day.
Jordyn Wieber was fourth on uneven bars, missing the bronze medal by about three-tenths of a point, and Gabby Douglas was fifth. Uchimura finished fifth on pommel horse after a fall and was sixth on still rings.
Viktoria Komova of Russia finally got her gold, winning uneven bars after going home with silvers in the all-around and team competition. Chen Yibing of China proved he really is “Lord of the Rings” with his fourth title on still rings.
But there’s more heavy metal to be had today, and chances are good Uchimura and the Americans will get some of it.
