Rachel Axon

USA TODAY Sports

RIO DE JANEIRO — Kohei Uchimura didn’t need another all-around gold to have the unwavering respect of his peers. Many long ago conceded the Japanese gymnast is the greatest of all time in his sport, even if he is reticent to do so.

But in winning a second consecutive Olympic all-around gold at Rio Olympic Arena on Wednesday, it’s possible the reigning king of gymnastics earned more adoration.

“I am quite happy that I managed to make Kohei very nervous, but he still retains his title and I really, really am very happy for him,” said Ukrainian Oleg Verniaiev. “I congratulate him.”

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It was Verniaiev who has come closest to doing what no one has been able to do in eight years – beat Uchimura in an all-around competition.

Uchimura is the six-time defending world champion, and he is the first gymnast to win back-to-back Olympic all-around gold since Sawao Kato did in 1968 and 1972.

Verniaiev was leading by .901 going into the final rotation, but Uchimura executed a beautiful, soaring high bar routine that allowed him to edge out Verniaiev by 0.099. Max Whitlock claimed bronze, earning Britain its first all-around medal since 1908.

It was the closest margin of victory that Uchimura has had in his run, and it’s the only time besides 2014 that he won by less than 1.5 points.

“This time was really the trickiest for me,” Uchimura said. “I felt really close to admitting that it might be really difficult, but the final horizontal bar event for me, I was very happy with my performance. So I felt that even if I lose, I would be happy.”

It was a feeling shared by Americans Sam Mikulak and Chris Brooks, who finished seventh and 14th, respectively. Each hit his routines but weren’t quite on the same level of the medalists on Wednesday.

“I proved myself I could hit 6-for-6 in this pressure situation,” said Mikulak, who struggled with consistency in the trials process. “I showed myself and the world that I can do it.

“I’m going to find all my silver linings and positive takeaways and I am going to use that to my advantage.”

Brooks made his first Olympics at 29, and this was his first and likely last competition at this level. In it, he gained a new respect for what Uchimura has done.

“Yeah, he’s the man,” Brooks said.

No one disagreed on Wednesday. Uchimura was already the greatest in their eyes, and he only added to the lore by coming back to win.

“There are no weak athletes in this sport, but the fact that we compete with this legend, with this guy who already since 2009 does not give up, would not let go of this title, I think that this is the coolest thing in the world,” said Verniaiev. “The fact that we can compete with him is amazing.”