RIO DE JANEIRO -- Trailing by nearly a point entering the final rotation and with his chances of a second Olympic all-around title very much in jeopardy, Japans Kohei Uchimura pondered what for the last seven years has been unthinkable.He thought about losing.I felt really close to admitting that it might be really difficult, Uchimura said.It was. It just wasnt impossible. Not for the greatest mens gymnast of all time. Delivering a fearless high bar with a gold medal on the line, Uchimura put all the pressure on Ukraines Oleg Verniaiev. And when Verniaievs routine minutes later ended with a small hop and an ever-so slight lean to the left on his dismount, Uchimura was back where he has always been while Verniaiev shrugged his shoulders.What are you gonna do? Its Uchimura. Maybe thats why Verniaiev couldnt stop smiling even though Uchimuras total of 92.365 was less than a tenth ahead of Verniaievs 92.266.I think this is really the coolest thing in the world, Verniaiev said. The very fact we can compete with him is amazing. Today we managed to put on an amazing show.One that ended the way it always has since Uchimura captured his first world championship in 2009: with Uchimura standing atop the podium with a gold medal around his neck and the Japanese anthem playing over the loudspeakers.This really was the trickiest for me, Uchimura said after becoming the first man in nearly 50 years to repeat as Olympic champion.Looked like it. Verniaiev led from the second rotation on, answering every time it seemed Uchimura was ready to take over. When Uchimura drilled a 15.566 on vault, Verniaiev responded with a 15.5. Verniaievs precise parallel bars routine -- his body pencil straight as he pressed into a handstand, his legs seemingly duct taped together -- put him up by .901 points heading into high bar. When Uchimuras high-flying set ended with a stuck landing and a 15.8, Verniaiev needed a 14.9 to win Ukraines first all-around Olympic title.Instead, he got a 14.8. And he seemed kind of pumped up about it.Im quite happy I managed to make Kohei very nervous, Verniaiev said with a laugh.Max Whitlock earned Great Britains first all-around medal in 108 years by taking bronze, just ahead of Russias David Belyavskiy. American Sam Mikulak recovered from a fall on vault and finished seventh. Chris Brooks finished 14th, capping a memorable rise through the qualifying process to make his first Olympic team at 29.Really, though, the night belonged to Verniaiev and Uchimura. Their two-hour duel provided the closest call in Uchimuras run of two Olympic crowns and six world all-around championships.Theres only the tiniest gap, a 0.1 gap, Uchimura said. I really have no confidence I should say, that I can beat Oleg.Verniaiev equated Uchimura to the gymnastics version of Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt, territory the ever gracious Uchimura shied away from immediately.Everybody in the world knows these names, he said. But Kohei Uchimura? Who is this man? I dont think Im well known in the world.Theres time. Uchimura will take a break following the Rio Games but has no plans to retire. The next Summer Olympics are back home in Tokyo. The opportunity to finish things off in front of his fellow countrymen and his daughter will be far too attractive to pass up.By then my daughter would be old enough so that I really hope I will be able to show her what her father can do, he said.Heres the answer: pretty much whatever he wants.Uchimura arrived in Rio as the overwhelming favorite to back up the all-around gold he won in London four years ago. Yet he stressed repeatedly the only thing that mattered was the team gold. That triumphant moment happened Monday when Japan soared to victory.While Uchimura was exulting in triumph, Verniaiev was just warming up. Ukraine qualified for the team final but basically gave up when Maksym Semiankiv couldnt participate in the finals because of an injury. Rather that put in a replacement athlete to fill in for Semiankiv, Ukraine instead just entered two athletes instead of three, dooming whatever medal chances they had.Verniaiev shrugged off the decision and insisted his team did not tank on purpose so he could prep for the all-around.We never blew a single contest, he said, calling it a silly and unpredictable situation. Air Force 1 Cheap China .Y. -- Syracuse has turned up the defence at the right time all season, and when High Point threatened to pull off a monumental upset the second-ranked Orange did what they do best with their quick hands and savvy play. Air Force 1 Low Wholesale . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. http://www.nikeshoesoutletwholesale.com/nike-cortez-sale/cortez-womens-cheap.html . Dusautoir, the former World Player of the Year, sustained a torn bicep playing for Toulouse in the Heineken Cup on Saturday. The flanker, who has played 65 times for France, is expected to be out for up to four months. Vans Shoes Wholesale . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. Huaraches Mens Sale . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said.Harlequins academy manager and former Saracens No 8 Tony Diprose joins Alex Payne on this weeks Sky Sports Rugby Podcast to preview the Champions and Challenge Cup finals. Sky Sports Rugby Podcast Listen to Tony Diproses European finals preview Quins face Montpellier in Fridays Challenge Cup decider in Lyon in what will be Conor OSheas final game in charge of the London club. The Irishman will be determined to sign off with a trophy before becoming head coach of Italy.The teams met in this seasons Challenge Cup pool stages with the home team running out resounding victors on both occaasions but a much closer contest is expected at Grand Stade de Lyon.dddddddddddd Diprose looks ahead to Saturdays Champions Cup final as his former side Saracens attempt to lift the trophy for the first time. He compares fly-halves Dan Carter and Owen Farrell and gives his reasons for predicting an English double on French soil.Diprose also reflects on the tragic death of his star pupil Seb Adeniran-Olule, who died following a road accident. Sky Sports Rugby Union Podcast - 11th May Also See: Past Anglo-French finals Route to the Champions Cup final WATCH: Eddie Jones Facebook Q&A Rugby on Sky ' ' '