Gymnast Kohei Uchimura celebrates his Olympic gold in Rio 2016.HOW HWEE YOUNG (EFE)
Kohei Uchimura, six times world champion in gymnastics and double Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016, announced on Tuesday his retirement from the competition.
The Japanese gymnast, 33 years old and with a total of 28 medals to his credit, has reported his withdrawal through a statement issued by his representative office published on the athlete's website.
"Uchimura will explain his retirement in detail at a press conference that will take place in the next few days," the statement briefly explained.
Uchimura managed to win gold at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, as well as being proclaimed world champion in full competition six times: in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015. In Rio 2016 he also won gold Olympic team with Japan, a title that the Japanese team had not achieved since Athens 2004.
Considered a legend, Uchimura was born in 1989 in the city of Kitakyushu (southwestern Japan) and got on a device for the first time when he was three years old.
His parents were also gymnasts.
He has a total of 28 medals in the history of gymnastics, among the seven obtained in Olympic competition and the 21 achieved in world championships.
Uchimura, at the 2012 London Olympics EMMANUEL DUNAND (AFP)
The Tokyo Olympics were the fourth and last for Uchimura, one of the best gymnasts in history, despite the fact that a fall from the bar knocked him out of the final.
His last competition took place in October last year during the Kitakuyshu World Cup, in his hometown, but he could not revalidate the champion title either.
“I couldn't do more.
Honestly, I feel like I've given it my all.
I think I have been able to convey to the audience how wonderful gymnastics is, ”he unrepentantly told the local agency Kyodo after what was his last performance in a sports competition.
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