Kohei Uchimura retains Olympic crown in thrilling all-around gymnastics final

In Japan they call him “Superman” – and in Rio de Janeiro Kohei Uchimura proved just why.

A virtuoso performance from the 27-year-old ensured gold in the men’s all-around gymnastics final Wednesday for the second Games in succession.

Uchimura, who led the Japanese to team gold last weekend, edged out Ukraine’s Oleg Verniaiev and Great Britain’s Max Whitlock to retain his title.

He will now head into the Tokyo Games in four years time as reigning champion with the opportunity to make yet more history.

“After winning the group gold, it was tough to re-focus,” he told reporters. “I’m so exhausted right now.”

Uchimura is the first man to achieve back-to-back victories in the Olympic all-around since fellow countryman Sawao Kato did so in 1968 and 1972.

The holder of 10 world championship gold medals and 19 in all, Uchimura underlined his undoubted talent once again in the Rio Olympic Arena.

Read: Japan’s ‘Superman’ targets 2020 homecoming

Katie Ledecky is congratulated by her U.S. teammates Allison Schmitt, Leah Smith and Emily DiRado after swimming the anchor leg of the 4x200 freestyle on Wednesday, August 10. The gold medal is Ledecky's third of the Rio Games.

Gabriel Barbosa, top, hugs his Brazilian teammate Neymar after scoring the first goal in a 4-0 victory over Denmark. It was the first goal Brazil had scored in three matches.

Kyle Chalmers of Australia celebrates after winning gold in the 100-meter freestyle. He is the first Australian to win the event since Mike Wenden in 1968.

China's Ding Ning, top, reacts after defeating her compatriot Li Xiaoxia to win table tennis gold.

The U.S. basketball team walks off the court after its 98-88 victory over Australia. The Aussies gave the heavily favored Americans a scare, leading by five points at halftime.

Japanese gymnast Kohei Uchimura celebrates after winning the individual all-around. Uchimura also won the all-around in 2012.

U.S. beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh Jennings dives for a ball during a qualifying match.

A fan watches archery under pouring rain in Rio de Janeiro.

American cyclist Kristin Armstrong shows her gold medal to her son, Lucas, after winning the time trial for the third straight Olympics. Williams won the event a day before turning 43 years old. She was the oldest woman in the field by seven years.

Nijat Rahimov, a weightlifter from Kazakhstan, celebrates after setting a world-record clean and jerk during the 77-kilogram (170-pound) competition. Rahimov lifted 214 kilograms (471.8 pounds) on the way to winning gold.

Madeleine Samantha Bodo Essissima plays a shot for Cameroon during a volleyball match against Russia.

Chinese field hockey players wear protective face masks as they wait for a corner shot from the Netherlands.

Tunisian fencer Ines Boubakri, left, competes against Italy's Elisa Di Francisca during a semifinal bout in the individual foil competition. Di Francisca advanced to the final but lost to Russia's Inna Deriglazova.

Evgeny Kuznetsov and Ilya Zakharov, synchronized divers from Russia, compete in the 3-meter springboard final.

Chinese gymnast Chaopan Lin competes on the parallel bars during the individual all-around.

Fans watch a men's beach volleyball match.

Croatian sailor Tina Mihelic competes in the women's laser radial class.

Synchronized divers practice for the 3-meter springboard event.

Russian handball player Victoria Zhilinskayte, left, competes against Sweden's Linnea Torstensson during a preliminary match.

Azerbaijan's Oleg Stepko performs on the rings during the men's individual all-around.

Chinese weightlifter Yanmei Xiang won the gold in the 69-kilogram (152-pound) weight class.

American basketball player Tina Charles shoots a free throw against Serbia.

U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps competes in a preliminary race for the 200-meter individual medley. He will race in the final on Wednesday.

Germany's Lisa Unruh shoots an arrow during the individual archery competition.

Brazilian fencer Tais Rochel, left, faces off against Saudi Arabia's Lubna Al-Omair during the women's individual foil competition.

Russian boxer Vladimir Nikitin is attended to following an injury suffered in a bantamweight bout.

U.S. swimmer Ryan Murphy competes in a preliminary race for the 200-meter backstroke. Murphy won gold in the 100-meter backstroke earlier this week.

The diving pool has been dark green since Monday, and now the water polo pool, left, is also starting to turn green. Rio organizers said the cause is likely due to algae and that water tests showed there were no health risks.

North Korean table tennis player Kim Song-i focuses on the ball during her semifinal match against Ding Ning of China. Ding advanced to the gold-medal match, which she won.

Volunteers dry a rain-soaked court at the Olympic Tennis Center.

British canoeist Joseph Clarke celebrates after winning the K-1 slalom final.

Italy's David Pasqualucci shoots an arrow during the individual archery competition.

Great Britain's Chloe Tutton competes in the 200-meter breaststroke.

South Korean fencer Kim Jung-hwan celebrates after beating Georgia's Sandro Bazadze in the men's individual sabre competition. Kim finished with the bronze medal.

Rio Olympics: Day 5

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He also joins Kato in being the only male gymnasts to have ever won three all-around Olympic medals, having won silver in Beijing eight years ago. Kato came second in 1976.

Verniaiev, who had led for part of the competition, had to settle for second with Whitlock taking Britain’s first medal in the all-around final for 108 years.