Reigning world champion Takehiro Kashima of Japan put in a solid performance in the men's pommel horse final to come away with the bronze medal at the Athens Olympics, but his compatriots failed to make the podium in two other gymnastics apparatus finals Sunday.
Takehiro Kashima stands on the medal podium after winning the bronze in the pommel horse
competition Sunday in Athens.
Kashima had a well-balanced routine on his favorite apparatus, but his score of 9.787 points was not enough for Japan's first ever Olympic pommel horse gold medal as he claimed the first Games medal for his country in the event since Eizo Kenmotsu took silver at the 1976 Montreal Games.
Compatriot Hiroyuki Tomita had a fall and finished last among eight finalists with 9.062 at Olympic Indoor Hall.