TOKYO (AP) — Danell Leyva showed the U.S. men can rake in the gold, too, winning the parallel bars title Sunday to give the Americans their first gold medal at the world gymnastics championships in eight years.
Leyva scored 15.633, finishing one-tenth ahead of Vasileios Tsolakidis of Greece and Zhang Chenglong of China. When the final standings posted, the 19-year-old from Miami clapped his hands while the American contingent in the stands screamed and exchanged high-fives.
It is the first U.S. gold at worlds since Paul Hamm won the all-around and floor exercise titles in 2003, and the first medal on parallel bars since Sean Townsend won gold in 2001. It is Leyva’s second medal at worlds after helping the U.S. win bronze in the team competition.
