From Paris to Jecheon: Japan Extends Reign, Mahdi Makes History for Iran
Jecheon, Korea – June 5, 2025 Fresh off their Olympic triumph, Team Japan reminded everyone that their golden run isn’t over yet.
On the opening day of the 12th Senior Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Jecheon, the reigning Olympic Team Champions delivered a near-flawless performance to secure both the team gold and the individual all-around gold and silver, confirming their continued dominance in Asian — and global — gymnastics.
Olympic Champions Extend Their Legacy
The team competition was a showcase of composure, technique, and pure class. Japan, still riding high after their Team Gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, looked as sharp as ever. Their six-man squad performed with clinical consistency, posting a combined total of 253.002 to take the Asian title in style.
The People’s Republic of China pushed hard with standout routines on parallel bars and rings, finishing second with 248.265, while a confident Kazakhstan claimed the bronze with 240.301.
Oka Leads an Olympic Podium
The individual all-around final featured no shortage of familiar names — including three of Asia’s finest gymnasts who had all competed on the Olympic stage just months ago.
At the top once again was Oka Shinnosuke, the Paris 2024 Olympic All-Around Champion, who showed the same calm control and technical mastery that earned him global gold. He totaled 85.131 across the six events, delivering yet another all-around victory — this time for the continent.
Hasegawa Tsuyoshi, his teammate and fellow Olympian, finished just behind with 83.965, showing exceptional strength on rings and consistency throughout the meet.
And taking bronze was the Philippines’ own Carlos Yulo, whose high-flying floor and vault routines lit up the arena. A Paris 2024 finalist, Yulo delivered an overall score of 83.632 to claim third.
This wasn’t just a high-level Asian final — it felt like a continuation of Paris itself, with Olympic-caliber performances from start to finish.
A New Vault is Born: Mahdi Makes History for Iran
The biggest surprise of the day came from Iran’s Mahdi, who introduced a brand-new element to the world — and stuck it.
On vault, Mahdi successfully performed a Yurchenko double salto backward in a tucked position with a full twist. The skill, now officially recognized as an E Group Vault with a D-score of 5.6, is not just rare — it’s historic for Iranian men’s gymnastics.
Mahdi’s moment was a reminder that breakthroughs aren’t always made on podiums. Sometimes, they’re made in the quiet confidence of an athlete doing something no one else has done before.
What’s Next?
With team and all-around champions crowned, attention now turns to the apparatus finals, where specialists from across the continent will compete for individual glory.
If today’s events were any indication, the Jecheon championships are not just continuing Japan’s legacy — they’re helping shape the future of Asian gymnastics.
