Max-imum effort

Precision: Briton’s Max Whitlock in action during the men’s pommel horse at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre. — Reuters

TOKYO: Briton Max Whitlock retained his pommel horse title to secure his sixth Olympic medal, as Israel’s Artem Dolgopyat, Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade and Belgian Nina Derwael all chalked up golden firsts for their countries.

On a day of surprises at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre, Dolgopyat, twice a world silver medallist on the floor, was congratulated by his Prime Minister after upgrading to gold by a whisker to take his country’s first Olympic title since 2004 and only its second ever.