Liverpool Lowdown: What happened today at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships?

The men’s all-around final was billed as a battle between Daiki Hashimoto and Zhang Boheng and that’s exactly how it transpired in Liverpool.

Having lost out to his rival in Kitakyushu 12 months ago, Hashimoto turned the tables at the M&S Bank Arena to add World Championship gold to his Olympic triumph last summer.

Hashimoto hit the front after two rotations and stayed there despite Zhang’s best efforts, ending as one of two Japanese representatives on the podium with Wataru Tanigawa taking bronze.

It was another eventful day in Liverpool – here’s the day seven digest…

Moment of the day

Carlos Yulo finished eighth but there remains no stopping him on the floor.

He topped floor qualifying with a score of 15.266 and though he could not quite match that in the all-around final, another stunning 15-plus routine brought the crowd to their feet at the M&S Bank Arena.

A performance along similar lines on Saturday would leave the 22-year-old very well set to add a third World Championship gold to his collection.

“Overall, the experience was really good,” he said. “I am in the top eight, it’s not bad and is still a big achievement for me. I am happy but at the same time I am disappointed. 

Shock of the day

Joe Fraser came into the evening hoping to emulate compatriot Jessica Gadirova’s exploits and earn the hosts an all-around medal.

The European champion qualified in fourth and seemed set for a tilt at the podium but an error-strewn evening saw him fall on four of his six apparatus and finish 22nd.

He will hope to bounce back for Sunday’s parallel bars final and remained in phlegmatic mood afterwards.

“Today wasn’t my day and that’s OK, I’m OK with that,” he said. “I’m still walking away from the championships proud of myself and proud of the team.

“Watching how amazing my teammate Jake Jarman did today (finishing fifth) was incredible, and I was just really proud of him.” 

Quote of the day

Hashimoto has a growing collection of podium gifts, the ‘lambananas’, and he could yet depart with more over the weekend – not that you get a sense he’ll be giving them pride of place on his mantelpiece.

“I got one from the team finals and I thought, ‘what is this?’” he said. “I can’t understand. So now I have two lambananas.”

What’s on tomorrow

A packed weekend of individual apparatus finals begins on Saturday with five golds up for grabs.

Hashimoto is straight back in action in the opener on the floor, with Zhang looking for quickfire revenge, before American duo Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles lead the charge in the women’s vault.

Men’s pommel is next up before the action concludes with women’s uneven bars and men’s rings.

The World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022 will be one of the largest international sporting events ever to be held in the city. Over 500 gymnasts from more than 70 countries will compete at the M&S Bank Arena from 29 October to 6 November 2022. Tickets are available at www.2022worldgymnastics.com/tickets.