Men's Gymnastics Olympic Controversy: Japan Takes Silver, Great Britain Snubbed
By Bleachersreport
July 30, 2012
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
There was serious controversy at the North Greenwich Arena in London on Monday, when the judges of the men's gymnastics team final awarded the silver medal to Japan after the team made an inquiry late in the competition.
According to the Daily Mail UK, the Japanese team protested a score given to Kohei Uchimura on the pommel horse, and the judges ultimately decided to accept the team's appeal and award Japan the silver at the expense of Great Britain.
China won the gold, while Great Britain had seemed to have the silver medal locked up. Ukraine was in the bronze position as well until the protest from the Japanese team ultimately moved them from fourth place onto the podium.
The result of the controversial protest: Japan is awarded the silver medal, and the host nation, Great Britain, must settle for bronze after a gutsy performance as an underdog in the team competition.
The Americans finished fifth in Day 3's final, but their poor performance takes a back seat to the controversy, which cost Ukraine a podium finish and Great Britain a much-deserved silver medal.
Team GB was snubbed; there is no denying that. Regardless of whether the judges made the right decision, the manner in which Japan was handed silver was unacceptable.
Great Britain had an historic finish at the Olympics on Monday, but it was rudely and brutally bumped back down to size by the judges who made a mistake either way you slice it.
On the bright side, the bronze finish is Great Britain's best men's gymnastics team result since 1912, not too shabby.