The men?s team finals of the 2023 World Gymnastics Championship are going on with all the grace and rage in Belgium. While the gymnasts are not missing a single beat in their performances, the judges delayed their decision by several minutes. As a result, the crowd at Antwerp became restless after the judges held up the scores of a top US gymnast.

Asher Hong displayed some great performances at the qualifiers to advance along with Team USA, to the team finals round. The flowy gymnast displayed a swift and smooth routine on the floor, but the judges didn?t reciprocate his swiftness. In fact, a noticeably large delay was incurred by the US gymnastics star for his floor routine.

Crowd perplexed as gymnastics judges hold up scores

Asher Hong entered the team finals of the 2023 World Gymnastics Championship after the US earned the second spot in the qualifiers. While everyone received a speedy scoring from the judges, Hong?s score was unexpectedly kept on hold. The delay was noticed by the commentators as well, who spoke about it on air during the live broadcast.

https://twitter.com/DvoraMeyers/status/1709268861411791144?s=20

Hong contributed significantly to the mighty score of 254.628 for Team USA. In fact, he claimed the seventh all-over spot with a staunch score of 83.615 in the qualifiers.?While Hong didn?t make it to the finals for floor exercise, he still beautifully delivered on the floor, for the U.S. team. Yet, the delay is scores remains a mystery for now. What could have caused the delay in releasing the scores for USA?s Asher Hong?

Asher Hong obtains a great score to end America?s 9-year title drought

Despite the initial delay, Asher Hong?s scores were finally revealed by the judges. The American gymnast earned a staunch score of 13.966 for his floor routine. Asher Hong got rewarded for his floor exercise performance that started with a front full to front double pike. Hong followed this with a laid-out double-double and a tuck front full switch to double tuck. One of Hong?s feet landed out of bounds because of the jump.?

ALSO READ –?What Are Gymnastics? Apparatus and Events In World Artistic Gymnastics Championships?

However, he immediately recovered and launched a slightly uncontrolled triple twist to obtain his final score. While Hong made a few errors here and there, his performance propelled the US to the third spot. The US claimed a world championship medal after a nine-year title drought and Hong?s contribution on the floor proved vital for it. Hong also delivered an astonishingly high score of 15.100 in the vault category to seal the bronze. Despite Great Britain?s Max Whitlock in hot pursuit of the third position, Hong?s precise execution kept him at bay. Will Hong be able to secure individual medals at the 2023 World Gymnastics Championship as well?

Watch this story: ?Inching Closer to Simone Biles and Shilese Jones, Gymnastics? Rising Star Unveils Her Next Steps