Chinese men 5-for-5

Chen Yibing extends China's perfect run in men's gymnastics by winning the still rings competition.

China's Yibing Chen competes in the men's rings final of the artistic gymnastics event of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing on August 18, 2008.

BEIJING // Chen Yibing has extended China's perfect run in men's gymnastics by winning the still rings competition. Chen, the two-time world champion, was perfectly still on nearly every move in registering a 16.600 that blew away the rest of the eight-man field. China has won all five men's events at the Beijing Olympics. All-around champion Yang Wei was not nearly as impressive as in his previous rings routines, but his strength and steadiness earned him a 16.425 for the silver medal. Oleksandr Vorobiov of Ukraine took bronze. China also enjoyed success in the women's gymnastics as He Kexin won a tiebreaker over all-around champion Nastia Liukin of the USA in the uneven bars discipline. Both scored 16.725, but He got the nod. He, at the centre of an age-eligibility controversy throughout the games with doubts raised over whether she is 16 or not was fast and furious on the bars. Her twists and flips were sharp and accurate but she won by the narrowest of margins. Liukin, who sat stone-faced for much of the competition, now has four medals, two of them silver. The bronze medal went to Yang Yilin, her third medal of these Games, including bronze in the all-around event. The USA women have won six medals here; China's women have five, including team gold. Leszek Blanik of Poland won a tiebreaker over France's Thomas Bouhail in the women's vault competition. Both scored 16.537, but the decision went to a tiebreaker that favoured the Pole. Anton Golotsutskov of Russia earned the bronze. Three-time world champion Marian Dragulescu of Romania had victory in sight after a massive first vault, only to fall on all fours on the landing of his second attempt.

*AP