iMSPORT.TV – Olympic champion Carlos Yulo (PHI) shocked everyone — including himself — by sticking his piked Dragulescu first Vault, setting him up to win his second world title four years after his last.
“I couldn’t believe I stuck that landing,” Yulo marveled afterward. “I can’t do that vault every day, but today I did it and I was really happy and grateful to God that we’re safe.”
The effort helped him fend off a challenge from two-time Olympic medallist Artur Davtyan (ARM), who stunned the Indonesia Arena crowd by stepping forward to stick both his Dragulescu and handspring front layout 2.5 twist.
Difficulty made the difference for Yulo, though it was a narrow victory. The Olympic champion earned an extra 0.4 over for his piked Dragulescu, helping him earn a 14.866 average.
Davtyan, renowned for his execution, made up some of the difference with 0.1 bonuses for sticking both landings of his vaults. He wound up with a 14.833 average, just 0.034 shy of gold.
Asked how he manages to stay on top, the 25-year-old was philosophical. “The way I see it, I’m a student and I always find good things to add,” Yulo said. “I just want to keep learning. For me, I’m a challenger. Last time I did win in the Olympics, but that’s about it. I value the journey more than the result, so whatever happens, I will keep trying and I will keep proving that my gymnastics is beautiful.”
With a steady Dragulescu and Kasamatsu double twist, Nazar Chepurnyi (UKR) landed his second consecutive bronze.
Elsewhere, two-time Olympic champion Zou Jingyuan (CHN) continued his long reign on Parallel Bars by recapturing the World title after skipping the 2023 World Championships to compete at the Asian Games. Back after a post-Olympic hiatus, 27-year-old Zou proved once more that he is the unparalleled king of the bars, scoring 15.300. Newcomer Tsunogai Tomoharu (JPN) took silver in his first World final, and Daniel Marinov (AIN) earned bronze.
Artistic Gymnastic World Championship 2025: Yulo, Zou, and Malone All Hold on for Gold
“I feel very touched,” said Zou, who thanked all of his supporters for encouraging him in the leadup to the final. “It’s been two Olympic cycles now, and many friends have been with me. Coming to the World Championships feels like being part of a big family.”
“I think this result is also a recognition of my hard work,” he added. “Day after day I’ve been refining and improving myself, trying to push my own limits.”
2022 World Horizontal Bar champion Brody Malone (USA) also regained his title. The first to perform in the final, Malone received credit for his opening skill, a full-twisting release named for Daniel Winkler (GER), which had been lacking from his qualification routine. It proved the difference for Malone, who scored 14.933, and All-Around champion Hashimoto Daiki (JPN), who had 14.733.
“Today it was just about making sure that I got that skill as straight as possible so that I would get credit for it, and it worked out,” Malone said.
“To be able to come back and sneak into the final the way I did and win the gold medal at the World Championship, I’m just super grateful.”
Malone said watching teammate Donnell Whittenburg (USA) win the Still Rings title Friday fired him up for today’s competition.
“Oh my gosh, I think I was more nervous watching him yesterday than I was for myself today,” he said.
“I’m always like that when I’m in the stands and I can’t control anything, I get more nervous. He told me yesterday when I saw him, ‘it’s your turn tomorrow.’ That really pumped me up.”
Joe Fraser (GBR) hit a sky-high triple pike dismount on Horizontal Bar for bronze, his first World medal on the apparatus and Great Britain’s fifth of the championships.
“I definitely believed it could be done,” said Fraser, who has been balancing running his own recently opened gymnastics club with training.
“It’s been a real big challenge. We’ve got nearly 700 kids a week,” he added.
“I’m really looking forward to getting home, going to the gym, and showing the medal to the kids. It means more to me this time than it has before.”
(adm/amr)
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