Men's Gymnastics Results 2012: Kohei Uchimura Confirms Greatness with Gold

Kohei Uchimura was the overwhelming favorite entering the 2012 London Games, and the Japanese gymnast showcased exactly why at the all-around finals.

Uchimura will take home the only prize that has eluded him, an Olympic gold medal. 92.690 is the score that he will remember until his dying days.

At the 2008 Beijing Games, Uchimura missed the gold due to a poor performance on the pommel horse. In London, he would earn the second highest score for the event.

Instead, it would be the floor routine and the parallel bars that would give Uchimura the most difficulty. He finished outside the top five in both events. Stellar performances in every other event was too much for the competition to overcome.

Germany's Marcel Nguyen and the USA's Danell Leyva were the next two gymnasts who placed. Neither were a threat to Japan's shining star. Both men are talented, but Uchimura is operating on a different level.

After the all-around finals, it does not appear that anyone is close to challenging him in the near future.

Uchimura is without equal. Three consecutive world championships and the 2012 gold medal sets him apart from the field. The gold will elevate his status from one of the greatest of all-time to the greatest that has ever lived.

What may be even more impressive is his age. Uchimura has earned the title of being the greatest at only 23 years of age. This level of dominance over the competition is rarely seen. It is comparable to Roger Federer or Tiger Woods' span of greatness in their respective sports. That is the kind of talent Uchimura is.

Sports fans who enjoy watching a dominant athlete in his prime should appreciate what Uchimura has accomplished in gymnastics. It is unparalleled.

He is a precision specialist; his routines are expertly executed and consistent.

What makes the Olympics special is the international attention. While his three consecutive world championships are astonishing on their own, they do not receive the praise they deserve. Que the Olympics. Now, the world knows of his greatness.

Uchimura is not finished in London. The Japanese legend qualified for the finals of the floor exercise that will take place on August 5. Uchimura will have to improve from his qualification routine to challenge for a medal.

He will go down in the history books and be talked about during every men's Olympics gymnastics competition from this point forward. Uchimura has left us with many memories of his stellar abilities and dominating performances. Young kids taking up gymnastics will seek out videos of Uchimura after hearing of his legend. He will be the shining example of the sport for years to come.

With three consecutive world championships and the 2012 Olympic gold medal, Uchimura cements his legacy as the greatest male gymnast ever.