Rio 2016: Twists and turns aplenty

Russian gymnast Aliya Mustafina trains ahead of the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday. (Photo: AP)

Japanese gymnastics star Kohei Uchimura, the reigning Olympic and world all-around champion, opens his quest on Saturday for a gold medal rush in Rio.

‘King Kohei’ has reigned in the all-around since 2009, winning a record sixth straight world title last year, and with 19 world medals — ten in gold — is the overwhelming favourite to star again in Rio.

The 27-year-old will fire the first shot in his bid to defend his all-around title in men’s qualifying on Saturday with his target also to fire Japan to team gold after taking silver in 2008 and 2012.

A second Olympic all-around gold would see him become the first man to achieve the feat since compatriot Sawao Kato in 1972.

The Olympic team gold is the only title missing from Uchimura’s collection, with China the two-time champions.

Uchimura also won Olympic silver on floor in London 2012, and has world titles on the horizontal bar and parallel bars, so could add to his Olympic medals tally of five — a gold and four silvers — from his previous two Games.

Uchimura’s all-around challengers include Cuba’s Manrique Larduet, 20, who broke through with all-around silver at last year’s world.

China’s Deng Shudi is the world bronze medallist.

The field also includes Germany’s Marcel Nguyen and American Danell Leyva, all-around silver and bronze medallists from the London 2012.

“It’s great to say I won a medal four years ago but it’s not going to help me now,” said Leyva, a late call up to the US team after John Orozco was ruled out injured.

“The past is the past,” he added.