18 Oct 2009

Mingyong claims world rings title

7:19 am on 18 October 2009

Yan Mingyong flexed his bulging biceps to win the rings gold medal at the gymnastics world championships.

The Chinese gymnast edged out Bulgaria's Jordan Jovtchev, a five-time Olympian, in the strongman's event by 0.1 of a point with a score of 15.675.

Oleksandr Vorobiov of Ukraine won the bronze.

Twice former champion Jovtchev, who at the age of 36 and with his silver-specked hair could be mistaken for one of the judges, proved he could still compete at the highest level when he picked up his eighth world medal in the discipline.

World and Olympic champion Chen Yibing had been expected to retain his crown but failed to make the cut for the eight-man final after a botched landing from his dismount in qualifying.