New Zealand hopes of a medal in the men's artistic gymnastics team event came crashing down to earth today, as a series of falls cost the team badly.
New Zealand were left ruing what might have been as they finished fourth on 243.800 points, trailing Australia (269.050), England (258.750) and Canada (248.500).
The squad had trained to score 248.000 and had they hit their routines, instead of fluffing them they would have done it, coach David Phillips told NZPA.
"They're honestly devastated," he told NZPA.
"The boys trained really hard for this, they targeted 248 and if they had hit their routines, they would have done it."
The team event is held on six apparatus, with a team having four of its five gymnastics in each, and the top three scores of those counting.
A new Olympic cycle scoring system that deducted more points for falls had carved points off the New Zealand team, Phillips said.
"It's pretty brutal when you make mistakes now."
His gymnasts had not been falling in training, and we not trying any new or extremely difficult routines, so it was a surprise they took place on the big day.
"They certainly weren't expected at all."
Patrick Peng showed the way for New Zealand, notching enough points to qualify 9th of 24 in the men's all round final, and making the finals for the floor and vault as well.
Misha Koudinov qualified 10th in the all round, and reached the floor final, while Mark Holyoake will contest the parallel bars final.
Athletes had to be in the top eight today to secure an apparatus final.
