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Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Sport

So where’s all the gold? Worst Olympic medal count since 1984 for China’s Rio gymnasts

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American champion Simone Biles dominated the women’s competition, while China’s Wang Yan at times struggled to control her emotions. Photo: Reuters
Phila Siu

Chinese gymnasts delivered their worst Olympic performances since the nation re-entered the summer Games in 1984, taking home only two bronzes from Rio.

It was a huge setback for China, who have traditionally dominated the gymnastics arenas.

In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Chinese gymnasts bagged nine golds, one silver and four bronzes. Just four years ago in London, China took home four golds and three silvers.

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“I felt some pressure,” 24-year-old Deng Shudi said after a fourth-place finish in the men’s parallel bars final at the Rio Olympic Arena. “I didn’t get to sleep until 2 or 3am. I don’t know. I just couldn’t fall asleep. I just laid on my bed. I just don’t know what happened. My brain is empty.”

All gymnastics competitions came to an end after the 11th day of the Games.

WATCH: golden moments on Day 11 at the Rio Olympics

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