Gymnast Takehiro Kashima, who helped his country win gold and silver medals in the men's team event at the last two Olympic Games, will retire to begin a coaching career, people close to him said Thursday.
The 28-year-old Kashima, also a former pommel horse and horizontal bar world champion, will make his final appearance as a competitive gymnast at the Toyota international meet to be held Nov. 15-16 in Aichi Prefecture.